I was really hyped for Sony’s State of Play, especially since they said it would focus on Japanese developers. Everyone, myself included, was hoping we’d finally get a good look at Kingdom Hearts 4. It’s been over five years since they started working on it, and three years since the official announcement, but we haven’t seen much beyond that first trailer. I was crossing my fingers for some new gameplay!
Anyone following the gaming industry, especially news about Square Enix, likely realizes this isn’t a good moment to heavily promote Kingdom Hearts 4. It would seem insensitive to celebrate the future of a popular game when the company is currently dealing with serious challenges in the industry.
Square Enix recently announced significant job cuts in the US and Europe. While the company’s president described a future focused on being efficient and adaptable, this translates to many Western employees losing their positions. The company will now prioritize game development in Japan, including projects like Kingdom Hearts 4 and the conclusion of the Final Fantasy 7 Remake series.
Square Enix is conducting another round of layoffs, marking the second time in two years. This year, the cuts affect all parts of its Western operations, with the company again focusing on its Japanese business. Layoffs are becoming increasingly common in the gaming industry, which is surprising given how well the industry seems to be doing financially. Just this week, Crystal Dynamics, formerly a part of Square Enix and now owned by Embracer, also announced layoffs, impacting 30 employees.
Given the recent layoffs at Square Enix, revealing Kingdom Hearts 4 felt inappropriate. While fans would have been thrilled, it would have been insensitive to those who had just lost their jobs.
While Square Enix did appear at the State of Play Japan showcase with a new trailer for Dragon Quest VII Reimagined, it’s not surprising given the game isn’t due out until 2026. Overall, the State of Play felt relatively limited in what it presented, and perhaps wasn’t the ideal event to share significant news about a major title like Kingdom Hearts 4.
What is the latest news on Kingdom Hearts 4?
We haven’t heard much official news about Kingdom Hearts 4 since it was first revealed in 2022. While director Tetsuya Nomura recently said development is going as planned, the exact timeline remains unclear. A mobile game called Missing-Link, which was intended to tie into the story of Kingdom Hearts 4, was unfortunately cancelled earlier this year.
Since the release of Kingdom Hearts 3, Disney has acquired several major franchises like Star Wars and Marvel. Fans expect to see these new properties reflected in the worlds of the upcoming Kingdom Hearts 4. The sequel also appears to be drawing inspiration from real-world locations. While the announcement trailer was created using Unreal Engine 4, the full game is planned to be built with the more advanced Unreal Engine 5, promising significantly improved graphics.
Square Enix is expected to reveal more about Kingdom Hearts 4 soon. With a renewed focus on its Japanese development teams, Kingdom Hearts 4, Final Fantasy, and the Final Fantasy 7 Remake series are key titles for the company. These games have the potential to significantly boost sales and improve the studio’s overall performance.
Some people have been wondering if Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth sold as well as Square Enix hoped. Whether it did or not, Square Enix has announced a change in plans: the third game in the Remake series will be available on PlayStation for a limited time before potentially coming to other platforms. This decision strongly suggests that Square Enix is trying new things to increase profits and it will be interesting to see if Kingdom Hearts 4 receives a similar treatment.
We’re especially thinking of the former Square Enix employees who recently lost their jobs, many after years of dedicated service. Unfortunately, the video game industry has seen a lot of layoffs lately, and it doesn’t look like that trend will change anytime soon.
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2025-11-16 11:04