Kingdom Hearts 4 - Release Date, Features, Trailer and more

Kingdom Hearts 4 was first announced in 2022 and has apparently been in development since 2020 (which is just after Kingdom Hearts 3 releases). We haven't seen anything from the franchise since that reveal which has a lot of fans wondering what the game will be about, where it's set, its release date, and so on. 

If you have similar questions, then you've come to the right place as this guide will cover everything you need to know about the upcoming Kingdom Hearts 4 title. INcluding release date speculations, gameplay features, details, and much more. SP without further delay, let's grab our Keyblades and jump right in. 

Kingdom Hearts 4 Speculated Release Date

Unlike Kingdom Hearts 3, which was announced in 2013 and released in 2019, it is unlikely that the next installment, Kingdom Hearts IV, will take as long to be released. According to statements from Nomura, the director of the series, Kingdom Hearts 3 was announced very early in its development, and he has expressed a desire to avoid repeating that approach. Therefore, it is possible that Kingdom Hearts IV will be in players' hands by 2026.

Based on current indications, developer Square Enix is expected to continue using the Unreal Engine, which they switched to during the development of Kingdom Hearts 3. With this in mind, there is hope that we won't have to wait for over half a decade to see more of Sora and his friends in what is anticipated to be one of the standout RPG games of this generation.

Kingdom Hearts 4 Trailer Details and Gameplay

Despite the limited information shared during the initial reveal of Kingdom Hearts 4, Square Enix did provide a glimpse of gameplay in the trailer. The footage showcased Sora wielding a Keyblade, utilizing grappling techniques to reach a colossal Heartless, and effortlessly navigating between floating cars. The gameplay appeared to be fast-paced and fluid, likely due to the performance gain from Unreal Engine, with Sora demonstrating swift aerial movements during combat.

In the reveal trailer, Sora was portrayed with a remarkably realistic appearance and featuring a redesigned look and noticeably smaller shoes (something we are on the fence about). The showcased setting appeared to be Quadratum, a more grounded and realistic environment compared to previous games. Quadratum was previously introduced in the secret ending of Kingdom Hearts 3 and explored further in the Re: Mind DLC.

Kingdom Hearts 4 Setting and Lore (Spoilers)

As mentioned previously, Kingdom Hearts 4 takes place in Quadratum, a fresh and unexplored world that follows the events of Kingdom Hearts 3. The conclusion of the Xehanort saga in Kingdom Hearts 3 saw Sora's defeat at the hands of a mysterious adversary named Yozora, who bears a striking resemblance to Noctis from the original Final Fantasy Versus XIII trailer.

As the story unfolds, Sora awakens in this unfamiliar realm, and the reveal trailer offers a fleeting glimpse of Quadratum. It departs from the series' usual style, exhibiting a more realistic atmosphere devoid of the anticipated Disney characters. However, towards the end of the trailer, we catch a brief glimpse of Donald and Goofy venturing into the Underworld, likely in search of clues to locate Sora's whereabouts.

Kingdom Hearts 4 Platforms

While not officially confirmed, it is widely anticipated that Kingdom Hearts 4 will initially launch on the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S consoles. Although Kingdom Hearts 3 eventually made its way to the PC platform and the Nintendo Switch through cloud gaming, it is too early to speculate whether the initial release of Kingdom Hearts 4 will extend beyond the PlayStation and Xbox platforms.

And there you have it, everything we know about the exciting arrival of Kingdom Hearts 4. For more details be sure to check out the official reveal trailer above, and as always, we will strive to keep this article up-to-date with the latest and most relevant news available so you can stay in the know regarding Sora, Donald, and Goofy's next epic adventure.