What’s the Kingdom Hearts 4 launch date? Few issues in gaming inflict extra struggling than a mainline Kingdom Hearts recreation launch cycle, and all of us immediately knew we had been in for an extended experience after seeing Sora awaken in Quadratum on the KH twentieth Anniversary occasion. With the Darkish Seeker Saga concluded, now begins The Misplaced Grasp arc.
There have been preliminary hopes that Sq.’s continuation with Unreal Engine, which it switched to mid-way by means of the event of Kingdom Hearts 3, would guarantee there would not be one other large hole between instalments of the dearly beloved RPG collection. However, three years after Kingdom Hearts 4’s announcement, we’re nonetheless surviving on scraps. Learn on for our newest KH4 launch date estimate and what we all know up to now.
Kingdom Hearts 4 launch date estimate
Kingdom Hearts 4 is not anticipated to launch till April 2026 on the earliest. This estimate relies on Sq. Enix’s present marketing strategy, KH3’s growth time, and what we are able to glean from the out there recreation snippets.
In Could 2025, Sq. printed its medium-term marketing strategy to cowl the subsequent few years of its new ‘reboot and awaken’ technique. Slide seven provides a normal launch construction for its tasks, which, most notably, states new “main titles” will not be launched till the start of the 2027 fiscal 12 months (this runs from April 2026 till March 2027).
Whereas sure, Sq. nonetheless plans to launch “a number of new titles” throughout the present fiscal 12 months, a mainline Kingdom Hearts recreation, in our eyes, constitutes a ‘main’ launch. Moreover, the overall lack of trailers or different substantial data on KH4 in latest occasions strongly signifies it is nonetheless a methods off.
Kingdom Hearts 4 was initially revealed on the 2022 Kingdom Hearts twentieth Anniversary Occasion. Based mostly on the in-engine gameplay proven, it is clear the sport had already been in growth for a while at that time. The most important clue for precisely how lengthy comes from an October 2020 Famitsu interview with collection mastermind Tetsuya Nomura.
Through the interview, Nomura is requested in regards to the collection’ future, to which he responds: “So… I am seeking to the twentieth anniversary and doing my greatest (laughs). As for me, my thoughts has already switched to the subsequent title, and the Kingdom Hearts group is already engaged on one thing new.” As we now know, KH4 was the title in query, so we are able to assume it has been within the oven for round 5 years up to now.
Apparently, KH4 is effectively on track to surpass the 5 years KH3 took to make after Sq. switched from its proprietary Luminous Engine to Unreal Engine 4. KH3 felt rushed and suffered tremendously for it, so it appears the devs are taking the mandatory time to make sure the sequel would not tumble into the identical pitfall. Sure, Sq. has needed to shift KH4’s manufacturing from UE4 to UE5, however the two engine switches aren’t remotely comparable in scope.
All this to say, be affected person and let Sq. prepare dinner.
Kingdom Hearts 4 trailers
The one Kingdom Hearts 4 trailer we have now up to now is the reveal proven on the April 2022 Kingdom Hearts twentieth Anniversary occasion. The trailer seemingly takes place quickly after the conclusion of KH3, with Sora awakening on a sofa in Quadratum.
Quickly after, we’re reintroduced to Strelitzia, somebody Union Cross (RIP) gamers must be very accustomed to. Like Sora, Strelitzia ‘died’ and got here to Quadratum. There’s some sense of juxtaposition right here, as she tells Sora it is “a world vigorous – however for you and I, it is just like an ‘afterworld’.” Modeled on Shibuya, we are able to think about the intersecting Jujutsu Kaisen followers can be desperately hoping to keep away from an incident in Quadratum.
As their dialog ends, the scene switches to Sora participating an enormous Darkside that has appeared within the metropolis, sending its denizens right into a panicked frenzy. We get a fast have a look at the acquainted UI parts from previous video games as Sora exhibits off some spectacular mid-air parkour strikes and magical new talents.
The opposite massive trailer second arrives proper on the finish, as we discover Donald and Goofy on the hunt for his or her misplaced comrade. Their search, it appears, has introduced them to the Underworld, as they’re jumped by a voice behind a blue glow that shortly shifts to a scorching orange. Although it isn’t confirmed to be Hades, the proof is fairly conclusive.
Elsewhere within the trailer, we see a snippet of a lush forest, which has tentatively been recognized as Star Wars’ Endor. The inclusion of certainly one of Disney’s largest properties would not come as a shock.
Kingdom Hearts 4 gameplay
Although we have seen little or no from Kingdom Hearts 4 up to now, there’s already a lot to investigate. Within the announcement trailer, maybe essentially the most vital new component we see is Sora using the Keyblade’s keychain as a series hook, enabling him to zip to numerous components of the setting. Contemplating the sheer scale and verticality of Quadratum, it is sensible that Sq. would add new methods to get round.
In fact, Sora has greater than sufficient expertise sprinting up the edges of skyscrapers, which we additionally see throughout the Darkside encounter. There are many buildings flying about for Sora to navigate, which is redolent of the Xemnas struggle in KH2.
Within the announcement trailer, we see an EX bar above the MP and well being bars. Nonetheless, within the screenshot shared by Sq. in Could 2025 (the one seen above), this bar has seemingly been moved above the HP bar. What’s extra, there are actually arrows on both aspect of the ‘Assault’ button, implying cyclable instructions or decks. The ultimate UI component of be aware is the ‘Construct’ command, which we might presume permits Sora to control Quadratum in some capability.
The screenshot additionally exhibits Sora using magical chains to get round, although this might simply simply be an airborne capacity animation. The Heartless under him look deceptively Sora-like in the best way their ‘hair’ flicks out on the again, although this might simply be a coincidence. (Be aware: Figuring out Nomura, it is positively not a coincidence.)
Within the screenshot under, the opposite half of the Could 2025 put up, we get an up to date have a look at Sora and Strelitzia, presumably now of their Unreal Engine 5 iterations. Mickey appears to be like to be playable as he hops from chandelier to chandelier in an unlimited library – Mickey modders, your watch has ended. A significant focal point is the 2 lights descending in the direction of the Darkside within the backside left nook. We would wish to imagine they’re by some means related to Terra (gold) and Aqua (blue), however we’ll see.
Kingdom Hearts 4 information
Since its 2022 announcement, Kingdom Hearts 4 information has surfaced in dribs and drabs, with whole years going by with out a lot as a whisper. On this trade, no information is usually excellent news, and Sq. has not too long ago proven indicators of life.
In Could 2025, the Kingdom Hearts Twitter account sprang to life, sharing a collage of screengrabs from the sport. “We’re presently working exhausting on Kingdom Hearts 4 and can proceed pouring ourselves into the sport’s growth,” the put up reads.
“We’re devoted to creating this an expertise that lives as much as your expectations! We have seen how excited you’re, and we’re actually grateful from the underside of our hearts. We’re equally excited and might’t wait to share extra about Kingdom Hearts 4 when the time is correct. Till then, we admire your persistence.” Many hoped this is able to immediate a brand new trailer at Summer season Sport Fest, however alas, nothing.
Through the twentieth Anniversary celebrations, a Famitsu interview with Nomura was translated on Twitter. Right here we be taught extra about Quadratum’s function as Sora’s base at first of the sport, and the way Sora’s world is perceived by its inhabitants. KH2’s response instructions had been additionally confirmed to be again, manifesting because the ‘scrap and construct’ system we allude to in our gameplay part.
The ‘male narrator’ talked about within the interview later transpired to be Union X’s Sigurd. His id was revealed through a secret message left throughout the twentieth Anniversary.
And that is all the pieces we find out about Kingdom Hearts 4 up to now. Whereas the lengthy anticipate Sora and the gang’s subsequent journey continues, try a few of the thrilling upcoming PC video games that may arrive this 12 months.
