Exciting developments have emerged for fans of the Kingdom Hearts series as new screenshots for Kingdom Hearts 4 were unveiled, coinciding with the unexpected cancellation of Kingdom Hearts Missing-Link. Dive into the details of these captivating new images and the sudden halt of the Missing-Link project.
Kingdom Hearts 4 Shows Signs of Life, as Missing-Link Gets Canceled
Kingdom Hearts 4 Screenshots Show New Heartless Variant and a Playable King Mickey
After a three-year hiatus, Kingdom Hearts 4 has finally rekindled excitement with the release of fresh screenshots. On May 15, the official Kingdom Hearts social media channels shared these eagerly anticipated images, offering fans a glimpse into the upcoming sequel. Accompanying the visuals, Square Enix issued a statement reassuring fans that development is actively progressing.
"We're currently working hard on Kingdom Hearts IV and will continue pouring ourselves into the game's development. We're dedicated to making this an experience that lives up to your expectations!" the message began. It continued, "We've seen how excited you are, and we are truly grateful from the bottom of our hearts. We are equally excited and can't wait to share more about Kingdom Hearts IV when the time is right. Until then, we appreciate your patience."
While no specific release date was announced, these screenshots have sparked numerous theories and heightened anticipation among the fanbase. One particularly intriguing image suggests the return of King Mickey as a playable character. Although Mickey has been playable in earlier titles such as Kingdom Hearts 2 and 358/2 Days, his roles were generally limited. In Kingdom Hearts 2, he stepped in during critical moments when Sora was defeated, and in 358/2 Days, he was only playable during certain missions. The new screenshot hints at Mickey potentially being playable again, possibly within a specific section of the game.
Some fans speculate that the library depicted in the screenshot with Mickey could be in Scala ad Caelum, a world Sora explored at the end of Kingdom Hearts 3. While it's unclear what Mickey is doing there, he might be researching the Foretellers, a group of Keyblade Masters expected to play a pivotal role in the upcoming saga.
Other images feature Sora in his updated attire, with regular-sized shoes, engaging in various scenarios. One screenshot suggests a battle against a new Heartless variant, while another shows Sora in the streets of Quadratum, with a distant shower of bright light. The former image hints at a "Build" mechanic, which might allow Sora to create weapons like grappling hooks or drills.
Additionally, an image showcasing Strelitzia, a character from the reveal trailer and Kingdom Hearts Union X, along with a rotary phone, has caught attention. Given that Quadratum is inspired by real-life Tokyo, as mentioned by series director Tetsuya Nomura in a 2022 Famitsu interview, the presence of rotary phones could have intriguing implications for the in-game communication devices, such as the gummiphones from Kingdom Hearts 3. Fans are hopeful they might still be able to use these devices to capture and share images on the series' pseudo-Instagram app.
Yesterday marked a significant milestone for Kingdom Hearts enthusiasts, as these screenshots broke the long silence following the initial announcement of Kingdom Hearts 4 at the series' 20th Anniversary event in April 2022. Fans are eagerly hoping that the wait for this mainline title won't be as long as the decade between Kingdom Hearts 2 and Kingdom Hearts 3.
For more insights into Kingdom Hearts 4, be sure to check out our detailed article below!
