Following the cancellation of Kingdom Hearts Missing-Link, new screenshots from Kingdom Hearts 4 have surfaced. Discover more about these images and the unexpected halt in development for Kingdom Hearts Missing-Link.
Kingdom Hearts 4 Shows Signs of Life as Missing-Link is Canceled
New Kingdom Hearts 4 Screenshots Reveal a Fresh Heartless Design and Playable King Mickey
After three years of silence, Kingdom Hearts 4 has sprung back to life with... screenshots. On May 15, official Kingdom Hearts social media channels released a set of brand-new images, giving fans a much-anticipated glimpse of the upcoming sequel. Square Enix accompanied these images with confirmation that development remains in full swing.
"We are hard at work on Kingdom Hearts IV and remain fully committed to its development. Our goal is to deliver an experience that meets your high expectations!" the statement began. It continued, "We’ve felt your excitement and are deeply grateful. We share your enthusiasm and look forward to sharing more news about Kingdom Hearts IV when the time comes. Thank you for your continued patience."
While no release window was shared, the fresh images have sparked fan theories and optimism. One standout picture offers a look at King Mickey, suggesting he may be playable. Although Mickey has been controllable in past games, such as Kingdom Hearts 2 and 358/2 Days, his roles were often limited—stepping in during critical moments or specific missions. This new teaser could indicate Mickey returns as a playable character, even if briefly.
Speculation points to the library Mickey is seen in possibly being located in Scala ad Caelum, a world Sora explores toward the end of Kingdom Hearts 3. His purpose there remains unclear, but he may be investigating the Foretellers, a group of Keyblade Masters expected to play a major role in the new saga.
Other screenshots feature Sora, now with a more grounded, regular-shoe-sized appearance, in different settings. One image shows him battling what looks like a new Heartless type, while another captures him on the streets of Quadratum as a burst of light glows in the distance. Notably, the combat shot suggests a "Build" mechanic, possibly tied to Sora’s ability to summon weapons such as grappling hooks or drills.
Another image includes Strelitzia, a character from the initial reveal trailer and Kingdom Hearts Union X, alongside a rotary phone. Since Quadratum is inspired by real-world Tokyo, as director Tetsuya Nomura noted in a 2022 Famitsu interview, rotary phones appear to fit the setting. What this means for the gummiphones from Kingdom Hearts 3 is uncertain, but fans are hopeful they can still take photos and share them via the game’s in-universe social app.
All in all, May 15 was a landmark day for Kingdom Hearts fans, as these screenshots arrived after a long information drought. The game was first announced in April 2022 at the Kingdom Hearts 20th Anniversary event, and fans are crossing their fingers that the wait for this mainline title won’t mirror the decade-long gap between Kingdom Hearts 2 and 3.
For additional Kingdom Hearts 4 coverage, explore the article linked below!
