Kingdom Hearts 4 Will Reboot the Series

Kingdom Hearts creator Tetsuya Nomura recently hinted at a pivotal shift for the series with the upcoming fourth mainline installment. This article delves into his revelations about this significant chapter.

Nomura Hints at Series Conclusion with Kingdom Hearts 4

Kingdom Hearts 4: A Story Reset, According to Nomura

The future of Kingdom Hearts appears both intriguing and potentially conclusive, based on a recent interview with Nomura. He suggests Kingdom Hearts 4 will be a turning point.

In an interview with Young Jump (translated by KH13), Nomura stated Kingdom Hearts 4 is designed "with the intention of it being a story that leads to the conclusion." While not confirming a series end, it positions the game as potentially the final saga. This new chapter, the "Lost Master Arc," aims to be accessible to both newcomers and veterans, simplifying the complex narrative.

Nomura explained, "If you remember how the ending of Kingdom Hearts III goes, you'll understand that Sora ends up like that because he's ‘resetting’ the story in a way," adding, "So Kingdom Hearts IV should be easier to get into than before. I think that if you like the series, you'll feel like 'this is it', but I'm also hoping that as many new players as possible will play it."

While hinting at a potential end to the main storyline, Nomura acknowledges the series' history of twists and turns. A seemingly definitive ending could be open to interpretation or pave the way for future spin-offs. The diverse cast also opens possibilities for individual character-driven narratives. This is further supported by Nomura's introduction of new writers to the Kingdom Hearts universe.

"Both Kingdom Hearts Missing Link and Kingdom Hearts IV have been created with a stronger focus on being new titles rather than sequels," Nomura told Young Jump. "As a new experiment, we have had staff who have not been involved in the Kingdom Hearts series before participate in writing the scenario."

The inclusion of new writers offers exciting potential for fresh narrative perspectives while retaining familiar elements. This could lead to innovative gameplay and unexplored territories within the Disney and Square Enix crossover.

However, Nomura's own future is a factor. He's considering retirement in a few years, posing the question: "If this isn't a dream, then I only have a few years left until I retire, and it's looking like: will I retire or will I finish the series first?"

New Arc, Fresh Start

Announced in April 2022, Kingdom Hearts 4, currently in development, initiates the "Lost Master Arc." Details remain scarce, but the trailer shows Sora awakening in Quadratum, a world Nomura described (in a 2022 Famitsu interview) as an alternate reality.

"From each of our perspectives, our perceptions change," Nomura stated (translated by VGC). "From Sora’s perspective, Quadratum is an underworld... But from the point of view of the inhabitants on the Quadratum side, the world of Quadratum is reality..."

Nomura revealed in the Young Jump interview that this Tokyo-inspired world, with a dreamlike quality, is a concept dating back to the first game.

In contrast to previous Disney-centric worlds, Quadratum offers a more grounded setting. This, along with enhanced visuals, results in a reduced number of Disney worlds.

"With regards to Kingdom Hearts IV, players are definitely going to see a few Disney worlds in there," Nomura told GameInformer in 2022. "Since each new title, the specs have been really increasing...it kind of limits the number of worlds that we can create."

While fewer Disney worlds are a change, a more focused narrative could mitigate the complexity of past installments.

Regardless of whether Kingdom Hearts 4 concludes the series or initiates a new era, it will be a pivotal moment for Sora and his companions. For many fans, a full-circle conclusion under Nomura's guidance, while bittersweet, would be an epic ending to a story spanning over two decades.