Everything Known about Kingdom Hearts 4 (So Far)

For fans of the Kingdom Hearts series, waiting long periods between mainline releases is nothing new. After Kingdom Hearts 2 on the PlayStation 2, the franchise shifted towards spinoffs, leaving fans without a true sequel for the entire PS3 generation. Finally, in 2019, the much-anticipated conclusion to what we later learned was the Dark Seeker Saga arrived. Yet, as is typical for Kingdom Hearts, the end of the saga didn't mean the end of the story for Sora, Riku, Kairi, and their Disney and Final Fantasy companions. A secret ending, a boss battle, and DLC all hinted at a new chapter on the horizon. The only question was: how long would we have to wait to see it unfold?

During Kingdom Hearts' 20th-anniversary event, fans received a surprise they weren't expecting so soon: the full reveal of Kingdom Hearts 4. Although many details remain under wraps, here's what we know so far.

Release Date Speculation

The biggest letdown of the Kingdom Hearts 4 reveal was the lack of a release date. There isn't even an estimated year from Square Enix for when this title might be ready. However, we can make some educated guesses. Given the state of the gameplay shown in the trailer, it’s unlikely we’ll see this game before 2025. Reports suggest that the game is currently being developed using Unreal Engine 4 but will be transitioning to Unreal Engine 5. While this switch isn't supposed to be overly challenging, it will likely introduce some delays. Nonetheless, this wouldn't be the first time a Kingdom Hearts trailer has been released well in advance of the game’s actual launch.

Reliable leaker Midori shared on X (formerly Twitter) that the planned release window for Kingdom Hearts 4 is 2026. More information is expected to be shared in the future, though this is a given.

Platform Availability

No platforms have been announced for Kingdom Hearts 4 yet. Historically, the Kingdom Hearts series was exclusive to PlayStation, but Kingdom Hearts 3 was released on both Xbox One and PS4, with later ports to Switch and PC. Recently, past titles have also been brought to Xbox and PC, suggesting a strategy to expand the series' audience in preparation for Kingdom Hearts 4. It seems plausible that Kingdom Hearts 4 could launch across multiple platforms simultaneously—or close to it—including potentially the next generation of consoles like the Switch 2.

The Announcement

So far, the only footage we have of Kingdom Hearts 4 comes from a teaser trailer revealed during the 20th-anniversary event in Japan. Despite its brevity, the trailer is packed with intriguing details.

The trailer introduces us to The Lost Master Arc, showing breathtaking scenes of a modern city reminiscent of Tokyo, first seen briefly in the secret ending of Kingdom Hearts 3. This city, called Quadratum, serves as the setting for the new adventure. In typical cryptic Kingdom Hearts style, a voiceover advises Sora to leave this world if he is overwhelmed by despair. A giant dark mass appears in the sky, followed by the words: "The heart resides within the soul, which in turn is guided by fate to its rightful place."

We then see a beautifully rendered forest, complete with a waterfall and river, before cutting to Sora, asleep on a couch, dressed in a new outfit. A red-haired girl named Strelitzia (an important character from Kingdom Hearts Union Cross) informs him that he has been asleep for a week since his arrival. She describes Quadratum as an "after world" for people like them, hinting that she, too, may not be from Quadratum. In an interview with Famitsu, Tetsuya Nomura explained this new world: “From Sora’s perspective, Quadratum is an underworld, a fictional world different from reality. But for those living in Quadratum, their world is reality, and the world of Sora and his friends is the other side, the fictional world.” This suggests that Quadratum is linked to the fictional game world of Verum Rex, seen in Kingdom Hearts 3’s Toy Story world.

The dark mass transforms into a monstrous creature resembling the Darkside enemy from previous games, attacking the city and lifting cars with dark powers. Sora leaps into action, Keyblade in hand, to confront the threat.

As the fight progresses, we glimpse two cloaked figures resembling members of Organization XIII. The voiceover warns that if Sora leaves this world, he shouldn't expect to return to his original one.

After the title reveal, we see Donald and Goofy exploring a dark environment, searching for someone they hope can help them. A blue flame appears, and a mysterious voice asks where they think they're going. The flame turns red, and Donald and Goofy react in fear.

The final message: “Magic in the Making.”

Story and Setting

As always with Kingdom Hearts, the story is complex. The Lost Master Arc likely references The Master of Masters, a Keyblade Master from Kingdom Hearts X who wrote the Book of Prophecies and briefly appeared in Kingdom Hearts III. How this connects to the larger narrative remains unclear.

Given Kairi’s situation at the end of Kingdom Hearts 3 and Sora’s fate in the Re:Mind DLC, it appears Sora's initial reason for being in Quadratum is to reunite with Kairi. Of course, things are unlikely to go as planned. The hope is that this new arc will be less convoluted than the first.

As for Donald and Goofy, it seems they may encounter Hades, given the blue flame in the trailer. Hades has had deeper ties to the series' major antagonists compared to other Disney villains, making him a likely candidate for a return.

Nomura also commented on Sora’s new look, explaining that his realistic appearance is specific to the Quadratum segments, but if he returns to his original world, he will revert to his familiar style, similar to Donald and Goofy.