New Screenshots of Kingdom Hearts 4 Revealed, Missing-Link Canceled

Exciting news has emerged for fans of the Kingdom Hearts series as new screenshots for Kingdom Hearts 4 have been unveiled, following the unexpected cancellation of Kingdom Hearts Missing-Link. Dive into the details of these intriguing new visuals and the abrupt end to the development of Kingdom Hearts Missing-Link.

Kingdom Hearts 4 Shows Signs of Life, as Missing-Link Gets Canceled

Kingdom Hearts 4 Screenshots Show New Heartless Variant and a Playable King Mickey

After three years of silence, Kingdom Hearts 4 has finally shown signs of life with the release of new screenshots. On May 15, official Kingdom Hearts social media accounts shared these eagerly awaited images, providing fans with a glimpse into the highly anticipated sequel. Alongside the screenshots, Square Enix issued a message confirming that development is actively progressing.

"We’re currently working hard on Kingdom Hearts IV and will continue pouring ourselves into the game’s development. We’re dedicated to making this an experience that lives up to your expectations!" the message began. It continued, "We’ve seen how excited you are, and we are truly grateful from the bottom of our hearts. We are equally excited and can’t wait to share more about Kingdom Hearts IV when the time is right. Until then, we appreciate your patience."

While no release window was announced, the new images have sparked numerous theories and heightened anticipation among the fanbase. One particularly captivating screenshot suggests that King Mickey might be playable, a feature that has been limited in past titles. In Kingdom Hearts 2, Mickey took over when Sora was defeated in critical moments, and in 358/2 Days, he was playable during specific missions. The new image shows Mickey in a library, possibly located in Scala ad Caelum from Kingdom Hearts 3, hinting at his involvement with the Foretellers, a group of Keyblade Masters expected to play a significant role in the upcoming saga.

Other screenshots feature Sora, sporting an updated look with regular-sized shoes, in various scenarios. One image suggests a battle against a new Heartless variant, while another shows Sora in the streets of Quadratum, with a distant shower of bright light. Interestingly, a "Build" mechanic appears to be involved, potentially allowing Sora to create weapons like grappling hooks or drills.

Another image includes Strelitzia, a character from the game's reveal trailer and Kingdom Hearts Union X, alongside a rotary phone. Given that Quadratum is based on real-life Tokyo, as mentioned by series director Tetsuya Nomura in a 2022 Famitsu interview, the presence of rotary phones could hint at unique communication methods within the game. What this means for the gummiphones from Kingdom Hearts 3 remains to be seen, but fans are hopeful for continued features like photo sharing on the game's pseudo-Instagram app.

Yesterday marked a significant milestone for Kingdom Hearts fans, as these screenshots come after a period of limited official information about Kingdom Hearts 4. The game was initially announced in April 2022 during the Kingdom Hearts 20th Anniversary event, and fans are eager to avoid another lengthy wait like the one experienced between Kingdom Hearts 2 and Kingdom Hearts 3.

For more in-depth coverage on Kingdom Hearts 4, explore our detailed article below!