Kingdom Hearts 4 Is Coming!
Oh, we love the Kingdom Hearts series – a beloved mash-up of Disney magic, Final Fantasy flair, and Tetsuya Nomura’s storytelling for over two decades. Since the series debuted in 2002, each game has woven a tapestry of friendship, heart-warming and heartbreaking moments, along with key-shaped weapons. Announced in April 2022, during the series’ 20th-anniversary celebration, Kingdom Hearts 4 promised to kick off the “Lost Master Arc”, a new chapter in Sora’s saga. The BandurArt team gathered all the rumors, speculations, and scarce facts about the upcoming new entry in the Kingdom Hearts series.
The Lore Expands – We Will Get a New Arc in Quadratum
The Kingdom Hearts series is notorious for its convoluted narrative, a sprawling web of Keyblade wielders, Heartless, Nobodies, and cryptic prophecies. Kingdom Hearts 4 marks the start of the “Lost Master Arc,” following the “Dark Seeker Saga” that wrapped with Kingdom Hearts 3 and its Re Mind DLC.
The story picks up after Sora’s disappearance in Kingdom Hearts 3, where he ends up in Quadratum, a hyper-realistic city resembling modern-day Tokyo. This world, first glimpsed in Kingdom Hearts 3’s Toy Story crossover and secret ending, feels like a dreamscape. This universe blends urban grit with metaphysical weirdness.
According to the Wikipedia page, Sora, our spiky-haired hero, awakens in Quadratum after being asleep for seven days. He is greeted by Strelitzia, a Keyblade wielder from the mobile game Kingdom Hearts Union X. Quadratum’s existence is puzzling since it marks Quadratum’s return after Strelitzia died in Union X.
Tetsuya Nomura has hinted that in the Kingdom Hearts series, Quadratum is a fake vision of Sora’s world and Sora’s world is fake to Quadratum. At the same time, Donald Duck and Goofy are hoping to save Sora and enter a world that looks similar to the Underworld, where they might meet Hades. The presence of a blue flame in the trailer clearly reveals Hades as a villain, signaling that Disney universes are not going anywhere.
The trailer also nods to Verum Rex, the in-universe game from Kingdom Hearts 3 that echoes Nomura’s ideas about using the world of Final Fantasy Versus XIII. Nomura suggested that Yozora, the main hero of Verum Rex, could be involved in the bigger story, since he mentioned “unexpected connections” between the games. Two members of Organization XIII, the Master of Masters and Luxord, could create some trouble, as the trailer displays the shadowed figures planning something.
Nomura has called Kingdom Hearts 4 a “reset” for the series, making it newcomer-friendly while still building on the lore. Reality, understanding who you are, and the idea of loss will feature, and “Is any of this real?” is the phrase associated with Sora.
The key lore questions we can conclude so far:
- Quadratum seems like an afterlife – could it be a dream or a different reality? Is there a connection between this and Sora’s final destiny?
- What makes Strelitzia come to Quadratum, and what part does she play in the Lost Master Arc?
- Will the mysterious character who is known as Master of Masters finally reveal himself as the main villain?
The Gameplay of Kingdom Hearts 4 Evolves
All Kingdom Hearts games have always been about flashy, hack-and-slash combat with a sprinkle of Disney magic. Kingdom Hearts 4 looks to crank that formula to the max. The first trailer has shown Sora’s skills in Quadratum proving that Square Enix is making the gameplay more dynamic. They were obviously learning from the best AAA games in the genre right now.
Parkour
Sora’s parkour skills, introduced in Kingdom Hearts 3, return vigorously— it seems we will have wall-running, sliding down skyscrapers, and swinging between floating cars like a Keyblade-wielding Spider-Man. Is there a new approach? His Keyblade works as a grappling hook that allows him to travel large spaces and achieve astonishing heights.
Combat
Fighting still mixes the main features of melee combat, magic spells, and amazing battles. We saw Sora facing a huge Heartless in the trailer, countering its attacks by sending his Keyblade drill launched like a missile. Reaction Commands, a fan-favorite from Kingdom Hearts II, are back, promising cinematic quick-time events that make fights feel like a Disney blockbuster.
Exploration
“Scrap and build” will be a feature of the game, even if details about it are not revealed yet. Some games allow people to build or destroy places, creating new challenges in battle. thanks to Unreal Engine 5, it’s easier to switch from casting spells to fighting enemies in melee.
Researchers are discovering new and improved methods to understand exploration by examining the first trailer, which incorporates gameplay elements. At Quadratum, the urban areas seem broader than before, and this suggests a new open-world sandbox instead of large locations like it was in previous games.
According to Nomura, the Minami-Aoyama home of Sora focuses on his everyday experiences, along with big battles. But will Sora take breaks to get coffee in the midst of fighting Heartless? Maybe. The Gummi Ship may be a hub to travel between old and new Disney-inspired worlds.
The following table shows the evolution of gameplay mechanics in Kingdom Hearts 4.
| Feature | Kingdom Hearts II | Kingdom Hearts III | Kingdom Hearts IV |
| Combat Style | Hack-and-slash, Reaction Commands | Hack-and-slash, Flowmotion | Hack-and-slash, Reaction Commands, Scrap and Build |
| Exploration | Linear worlds | Semi-open worlds | Expanded semi-open worlds |
| Keyblade Mechanics | Drive Forms | Formchanges | Grappling Hook, Formchanges |
| Engine | Proprietary | Unreal Engine 4 | Unreal Engine 5 |
New Technologies in Kingdom Hearts 4 – Unreal Engine 5’s Magic Touch
Kingdom Hearts 4 is being built on Unreal Engine 5, a leap from Unreal Engine 4 used in the reveal trailer. The tech will let us see visuals we haven’t seen before even in Cyberpunk (we are a bit skeptical about this announcement), making its setting look better and more realistic than previous games did.
Think of lighting that makes everything seem real, detailed textures, and smooth changes between the game and any cutscenes. With its Nanite technology, Fight for Earth might be able to provide big and destroyable environments to match the “scrap and build” feature. Because of Unreal’s Lumen technology, the city in Quadratum will be lit with a dreamy atmosphere that fits the game’s theme.
Development is now simpler with the help of Unreal Engine 5. Unlike Kingdom Hearts 3, which swapped engines mid-cycle, Kingdom Hearts 4 benefits from a stable foundation, potentially shortening the wait. Probably, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and possibly a PC or a Nintendo Switch successor will support this game.
Modern cloud technology could make ports smoother and potentially add in the cooperative elements that Missing Link’s canceled plans included.
New technologies we will probably see in one way or another in Kingdom Hearts 4:
- In Unreal Engine 5, you get amazing lifelike graphics, great lighting systems, and huge play areas;
- You might play this on a PS5 or an Xbox Series X|S, and a PC or Switch 2 is a possibility as well;
- Smoothly switching between gameplay and cinematic approach allows for better storytelling.
Kingdom Hearts 4 Release Date – Rumors and Facts
Let’s address the elephant in the room: there’s no official Kingdom Hearts 4 official release date. Square Enix has given very few details, keeping everything as secret as a Heartless would. The game has existed since 2022, but it was still under development at the time, so little information has been shared since then and fans can’t wait for news.
Because of the series’ history, guessing a release date is as unpredictable as exploring the Realm of Darkness without being able to see. Kingdom Hearts 3 took a whopping six years from its 2013 announcement to its 2019 release, plagued by engine swaps and Nomura’s packed schedule with projects like Final Fantasy XV.
In addition, there may be hope that we won’t have to wait as long this time. Development for Kingdom Hearts 4 began in 2020, giving it a head start before the reveal.
The cancellation of the mobile game Kingdom Hearts Missing-Link in May 2025 has shifted Square Enix’s focus to Kingdom Hearts 4, potentially speeding things up. Keep in mind that 2025 is less likely thanks to production issues, so the game might arrive in 2026 or at the start of 2027 instead.
Tips for Developers – The Necessity of Early Game Promotion
Announcing games years before release has become a hallmark of big-budget titles like Kingdom Hearts 4, but why start the hype train so early? Succinctly put, the aim is to channel fan enthusiasm, manage developers’ deadlines, and keep up with market pressure.
Early reveals keep franchises alive in the public eye, especially for series like Kingdom Hearts with famously long gaps between mainline entries. Though the trailer wasn’t complete and featured early clips, it led many fans to come up with theories and made everyone keep discussing Final Fantasy XVI during most of this year.
If a film is promoted early, it creates excitement among the audience. Their practice of withholding most information and showing all their trailers at big events like Gamescom or the Tokyo Game Show increases how excited people get about the company’s upcoming games.
Summing up, let’s resume why the early promotion of the game – both indie and AAA titles – matters even for small teams:
- You may keep your potential audience engaged with teasers, then trailers and gameplay demos. Building the hype around your product is important during long development cycles;
- In such a way, you can drive the market’s interest – early buzz boosts pre-orders and merchandise sales;
- You can gather feedback and shape the development by adding or deleting certain features. Fan feedback should impact the final product’s look and gameplay.
FAQ
Will Kingdom Hearts 4 ever come out?
According to some speculations on Reddit, Kingdom Hearts 4 will be released in 2026 or 2027. The release window has not been confirmed yet. In 2022, Square Enix revealed the game and claimed they were pouring all their efforts into this game after the cancellation of another DLC for Kingdom Hearts 3. In 2025, expect to get a new look at the game during game showcases.
How should I start playing Kingdom Hearts?
No matter if you play on a PC or consoles, there is a great starting point for new KH players – begin with Kingdom Hearts 1.5 + 2.5 ReMIX collection. It includes two core games and DLC that links them. Then you should buy another bundle – Kingdom Hearts 2.8 + extra content. And only then continue with Kingdom Heart 3 and its DLC.
What world will be in Kingdom Hearts 4?
Kingdom Hearts 4 introduces the fantasy adaptation of Tokyo called Quadratum, a realistic city with strong Japanese vibes. Also, expect the diverse Disney worlds like Endor from Star Wars and possibly the Underworld from Hercules. The Big Hero 6’s world of San Fransokyo might return, but it is just a rumor for now.
How old is Sora in KH4?
It seems that Sora is around 17 years old in Kingdom Hearts 4 since he was about 15 in KH3. Kingdom Hearts’ events develop quite dynamically in every game, meaning the heroes have not grown too old since the first game.
Conclusion
Kingdom Hearts 4 seems to become a bold evolution of the series by blending a fresh story arc, dazzling tech, and refined gameplay. The BandurArt team hopes you’ve enjoyed reading the post about the upcoming adventures of Sora. We can’t wait to play this game. Also, we have high expectations about showing aspiring developers why it is important to promote their gaming projects while they are still in development, a few years before the actual release.
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