A New Kingdom Hearts Game Is Coming — But It’s Not What You Think

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For devoted Kingdom Hearts enthusiasts, it’s been quite challenging not to feel disheartened by the prolonged and excruciating wait for the next installment. This game series is known for demanding a substantial amount of patience and a longer-than-usual lifespan just to experience the next part of the story. We’ve often discussed how waiting isn’t always easy or straightforward.

The positive news is that a new Kingdom Hearts game is being developed. However, it’s not what fans have been eagerly waiting for – the long-anticipated Kingdom Hearts IV, which continues Sora’s story. Instead, the upcoming title is speculated to be a Pokemon GO-style mobile game called Kingdom Hearts: Missing-Link for both Android and iOS devices.

As a gamer, I’d put it this way: Stepping into Missing-Link feels like a blend of Niantic’s classic formula and a dash of Kingdom Hearts magic. The combat is slick and flashy, reminiscent of the series, but what truly defines the gameplay is the GPS mode that lets me play anytime, anywhere.

As a gaming enthusiast, I’ve got to say, what makes Missing-Link stand out is that it doesn’t push me towards fitness or make me trek miles daily. Instead, this game offers an exclusive “Touch Mode,” allowing me to zip around the world instantly. This feature practically eliminates the need for physical movement while gaming.

Narratively speaking, players should anticipate significant disclosures concerning the series’ central narrative, much like Union X and Dark Road were crucial for grasping Kingdom Hearts III. However, specific storyline details remain scarce. As per the official site, the plot unfolds during a period of Kingdom Hearts history that is yet to be fully understood, which we can only speculate about at this point.

For enthusiasts eagerly awaiting familiar faces, they might just get their wish. Given that Missing-Link takes place during the timeframe between Union Cross and Dark Road, there’s a possibility we could see appearances from Organization XIII members, the Foretellers, or even younger iterations of Final Fantasy characters.

Additionally, since it’s still Kingdom Hearts (being part of a Disney production), you’ll encounter Disney characters too. They’ll be found as collectible “Pieces” hidden throughout the GPS-based environment. Players can join forces with these characters to fight against Heartless and perform synchronized Keyblade attacks.

Initially, the release of this game was anticipated for the previous year; however, a delay occurred on November 19th, causing uncertainty among fans about its final launch date. While there’s no confirmed new release date yet, the suspense has left many speculating when Missing-Link will officially go live. After a closed beta test more than a year ago, some began to worry that the game might have been scrapped—until reports came out stating that it is being remade using Unreal Engine 5, with development starting in 2019. Truth be told, such delays are typical when dealing with Kingdom Hearts’ release schedules.

Despite many unresolved questions about this project, one fact remains certain: Missing-Link continues to thrive and remain active. However, Square Enix has been unusually quiet, which can’t help but cause concern. If they were to discontinue the project, it would be reasonable to expect that Kingdom Hearts IV wouldn’t be far from following suit.

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2025-04-14 13:12