Kingdom Hearts fans know the pain of having to wait what feels like a lifetime for the next major console release. Kingdom Hearts 3’s original production announcement was at E3 2013, but didn’t hit the shelves until six years later in 2019. So when we first saw Sora awaken in Quadratum at the Kingdom Hearts 20th Anniversary event, the immediate question we all had was ‘when is the Kingdom Hearts 4 release date?’
Fortunately, we shouldn’t be waiting quite as long for the Kingdom Hearts 4 release date as we did with KH3. By the looks of things, developer Square Enix is sticking to Unreal Engine – the engine it switched to from its in-house Luminous Engine part way through KH3’s development – going forward. With a bit of luck, then, it shouldn’t be over half a decade before we see more of Sora and friends.
From what we’ve seen so far of the first instalment of The Lost Master Arc, Square has really upped the fidelity of, well, everything – at least in its pre-rendered footage. We’ve also finally received confirmation that, yes, Sora actually has normal-sized feet (at least in Quadratum).
Read on to find out more about the Kingdom Hearts 4 release date, trailer, platforms we expect to see it released on, and more.
Kingdom Hearts 4 release date speculation
The Kingdom Hearts 4 release date is currently unknown. As the game has only recently been announced, it’s pretty safe to assume that it won’t hit the shelves for at least another couple of years.
It’s worth noting that while there usually a three year gap between major Kingdom Hearts games – it’s unlikely we’ll see Kingdom Hearts 4 this year, especially due to the hangover of the pandemic. It’s more likely that we’ll see the game in 2023 instead.
Kingdom Hearts 4 trailer
So far the only trailer we have for Kingdom Hearts 4 is the reveal trailer shown at the Kingdom Hearts 20th Anniversary event in April 2022.
The trailer appears to take place a short time after the events of Kingdom Hearts 3, as Sora awakens in a world called Quadratum. Early in the trailer we are reintroduced to Strelitzia, who was killed off in Kingdom Hearts Union Cross. As such, it looks like both Sora and Strelitzia are in some form of afterworld.
Meanwhile, Donald and Goofy appear to be trying to find clues that could lead them back to their thought-to-be-deceased friend. It looks like this leads them to the Underworld, and what could transpire to be a less-than-friendly run-in with Hades.
Related: Kingdom Hearts Missing-Link release date
Kingdom Hearts 4 platforms
Though unconfirmed, Kingdom Hearts 4 is expected to initially release on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. Although Kingdom Hearts 3 did later come to PC, as well as the Nintendo Switch via cloud gaming, it’s too early to suggest that an initial release outside of PS/Xbox could be on the cards.
Kingdom Hearts 4 news
Famitsu published an interview with Tetsuya Nomura himself in April 2022. Community translator ‘Audrey’ took to Twitter to post highlights from the Kingdom Hearts 4 segment, which include comments from Nomura on Quadtratum and how it will operate as Sora’s base at the start of the game.
Nomura also says KH4 will explore the concept of Quadratum being a fictional world to Sora and his friends, and Sora’s world a fictional one to the inhabitants of Quadratum, and confirms the return of KH2’s reaction commands as part of a new ‘scrap and build’ system to the game’s combat loop.
In a new interview with Famitsu, Nomura talks more about Quadratum.
-It's not related to TWEWY's Shibuya
-Sora's room is a base in the beginning of the game
-His room is indeed in Aoyama
-Quadratum is a new world not related to any we've seen beforeHere's my translation! #KH4 pic.twitter.com/iwgF1hQ9RG
— ☆オードリーAudrey☆ (@aitaikimochi) April 14, 2022
Nomura says they plan to explore the theme of how from Sora and co.'s perspective, Quadratum is a fictional world, but from the perspective of those living in Quadratum, Sora's world is the fictional one.
He also says the male narrator's voice is a first for his character🤯 #KH4 pic.twitter.com/LPSCcuUEnz
— ☆オードリーAudrey☆ (@aitaikimochi) April 14, 2022
Regarding #KH4's battle system, Nomura mentions it's going to be incorporate a "scrap and build" system.
-Battle reaction commands from KH2 will be coming back
-The "BUILD" action you see in the command bar is part of the "scrap and build" system
-More details on this later lol pic.twitter.com/MV0xsUI6M4— ☆オードリーAudrey☆ (@aitaikimochi) April 14, 2022
It later transpired that the ‘male narrator’ mentioned in the interview is Sigurd, who we first met in Kingdom Hearts Union X. His identity was revealed through a secret message left during the 20th anniversary event.
Nomura's secret message in the Kingdom Hearts 20th Anniversary event venue has been deciphered! (via several Japanese fans such as @kh_skrvat)
"The voice's identity is Sigurd. Pay close attention."https://t.co/HMc320I2GK pic.twitter.com/bJB9HuKvVh
— KH13 · for Kingdom Hearts (@KH13com) April 14, 2022
And that’s all we have on the Kingdom Hearts 4 release date and everything else related to the game so far. While you’re patiently waiting for the next smatterings of information on Sora and co’s next adventure, check out some of the other best PS5 games or best Xbox Series X games to tide you over.
