Even though it’s been more than two years since its first unveiling, there’s yet no confirmed release date for the much-awaited Kingdom Hearts 4. As director Tetsuya Nomura and the Square Enix team have been engrossed in numerous significant projects, it appears that the game might adhere to the trend of lengthy development periods between installments. Considering the typical promotional timelines for main games in the series, there’s still a possibility that Kingdom Hearts 4 could be showcased this year.
Over the course of its existence, there have been regular instalments of the game called Kingdom Hearts, but the numbered versions have typically had the longest periods between announcement and release. Although it’s possible that Kingdom Hearts 4 (KH4) could match the extended production timeframe of Kingdom Hearts 3, some upcoming events this year might see trailers for KH4 being unveiled.
Kingdom Hearts 4 May Have Become the Victim of a Premature Reveal
Tetsuya Nomura’s Comments on Finishing the Series Indicate a Lengthy Timeline is Still on the Table
Based on Nomura’s comments about the future of Kingdom Hearts in a 2024 interview with Young Jump, it appears he might be planning to keep working on the series until his retirement. Given that he’s currently involved with the third part of FF7 Remake, continuing support for Rebirth, the upcoming Kingdom Hearts Missing Link, and potential new projects at Square Enix, it seems his focus may have shifted away from Kingdom Hearts 4 over the past few years. Although a 2025 release is not completely off the table, it’s likely that the next Kingdom Hearts game will first require some build-up before its launch.
Following in the Footsteps of KH3’s Prolonged Hype Cycle
It appears that the unveiling of Kingdom Hearts 4’s new storyline didn’t coincide with a major developmental milestone, much like the notorious wait for the third game in the series. Following its initial teaser, Kingdom Hearts 3 went through years of development, including a change in engine during the release of multiple other games within a span of six years before it finally came out. It’s also worth noting that another game was supposed to be released before the sequel, but its current status suggests a wait longer than anticipated.
Kingdom Hearts Missing-Link Could Be a Necessary Prerequisite
Originally planned to release last year, serving as a transitional title between past and future Kingdom Hearts games, the delay of “Kingdom Hearts Missing Link” might have caused “Kingdom Hearts 4” to be postponed instead. Both were announced at the same time, generating equal anticipation, but “Kingdom Hearts 4” had a 2023 open beta that demonstrated its development progress. Now, it appears “Kingdom Hearts Missing Link” is scheduled for this year, and it remains unclear if it will serve as a crucial prelude to the next game in the series.
Another Trailer for Kingdom Hearts 4 is What Fans Should Hope for in 2025
Comparing the Release Timelines of the Franchise
From the pattern of promotional releases linked to each major Kingdom Hearts game, it’s evident that the wait for Kingdom Hearts 4 is now among the longest in this series’ history. In fact, the duration we’ve been waiting for it is rivaled only by the nearly six-year gap between its release and Kingdom Hearts 3.
During these waiting periods, there’s been a lot of attention given to remasters and ports of the latest Kingdom Hearts games. This suggests that, when it comes to promoting the upcoming sequel, they might be following a similar strategy. Over time, it has become common for trailers for most Kingdom Hearts titles to appear about a year or two before their release. If the goal is indeed to launch in 2026 or 2027, then there should be some significant progress made soon.
| Title | Announcement Date | Initial Release Date | Approx. Time Gap | Trailers |
| Kingdom Hearts | May 2001 | March 2002 | 10 months | E3 2001, TGS 2001 (Demo) |
| Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories | September 2003 | November 2004 | 14 months | TGS 2003, Jump Festa 2003 (Demo) |
| Kingdom Hearts 2 | September 2003 | December 2005 | 27 months | TGS 2003, E3 2004 |
| Kingdom Hearts Coded | September 2007 | November 2008 | 14 months | September 2007, Jump Festa 2008, August 2008, TGS 2008 (Demo), Jump Festa 2009 (Demo) |
| Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days | September 2007 | May 2009 | 20 months | TGS 2008, Jump Festa 2008 (Demo), E3 2009 |
| Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep | September 2007 | January 2010 | 28 months | TGS 2008, Jump Festa 2008, August 2008 (Demo), TGS 2009 (Demo), Jump Festa 2010 (Demo) |
| Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance | June 2010 | March 2012 | 21 months | January 2011, July 2011 (Demo), March 2012 |
| Kingdom Hearts 3 | June 2013 | January 2019 | 67 months | E3 2013, E3 2014, E3 2015, June 2017, D23 Japan 2018, E3 2018 (Demo), November 2018 |
| Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory | June 2020 | November 2020 | 5 months | August 2020 |
| Kingdom Hearts 4 | April 2022 | TBA | 33 months (So far) | April 2022 (Kingdom Hearts 20th-anniversary event) |
What a KH4 Trailer in 2025 is Likely to Contain
Based on the pattern established by the promotional build-up for previous Kingdom Hearts games, it’s likely that this year’s trailers will follow a similar trend, revealing some predictable elements. Although the main story and its central conflict might stay shrouded in mystery, we can expect to see previews of several new Disney worlds in Kingdom Hearts 4, as well as glimpses into the game’s updated combat system. Contrasting with the CGI-style announcement trailer the game initially had, these trailers will hopefully clarify whether Donald and Goofy will rejoin Sora as companions in this new adventure.
As a dedicated fan, I can’t help but feel a flutter of excitement with whispers of Square Enix Presents happening in February – the first such event since E3 2021. It seems like the perfect platform for a much-anticipated gameplay showcase of Kingdom Hearts 4, a title that was conspicuously absent from last year’s industry events. Leaving out such a highly anticipated game at every major promotion opportunity for another year would be quite unexpected. In the current post-E3 landscape, other significant gaming events to keep an eye on in the next few years include potential first-party reveals, with 2025 events being particularly noteworthy.
- Summer Games Fest (June)
- D23 Expo (August)
- Tokyo Game Show (September)
- Jump Festa (December)
- The Game Awards (December)
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2025-01-11 15:05