New Kingdom Hearts 4 Screenshots Revealed, Missing-Link Cancellation Confirmed

Exciting new developments have emerged for fans of the Kingdom Hearts series, as fresh screenshots for Kingdom Hearts 4 were unveiled following the unexpected cancellation of Kingdom Hearts Missing-Link. Dive into the details about these intriguing screenshots and the abrupt end to Kingdom Hearts Missing-Link's development.

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 a three-year period with little to no updates, Kingdom Hearts 4 has finally come back to life with a series of captivating screenshots. On May 15, the official Kingdom Hearts social media channels released these new images, providing fans with their first glimpse at the eagerly awaited sequel since its announcement. Alongside these visuals, Square Enix reaffirmed their commitment to the project.

"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 developers stated. They 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."

Although no specific release date was disclosed, the new screenshots have sparked numerous theories and renewed hope among the fanbase. One particularly eye-catching image features King Mickey, hinting at his potential playability in Kingdom Hearts 4. While Mickey has been playable in past titles such as Kingdom Hearts 2 and 358/2 Days, his involvement was often limited. In Kingdom Hearts 2, he would take over when Sora was defeated at crucial points, and in 358/2 Days, he was playable only during specific missions. The new screenshot suggests Mickey might have a more significant role, even if only for a select portion of the game.

Some fans speculate that the library setting where Mickey appears could be located in Scala ad Caelum, a world visited by Sora at the end of Kingdom Hearts 3. What Mickey might be doing there remains a mystery, but it's possible he could be delving into the lore of the Foretellers, a group of Keyblade Masters central to the upcoming narrative.

Additional screenshots feature Sora, now sporting a new look with regular-sized shoes, in various settings. One image shows him battling a new type of Heartless, while another captures him in the streets of Quadratum, with a distant shower of light. Intriguingly, the battle screenshot hints at a "Build" mechanic, which may allow Sora to create weapons like grappling hooks or drills.

Another image includes Strelitzia, a character from the reveal trailer and Kingdom Hearts Union X, alongside a rotary phone. Given that Quadratum is inspired by real-life Tokyo, as mentioned by series director Tetsuya Nomura in his 2022 Famitsu interview, the presence of rotary phones adds a unique touch. This raises questions about the fate of the gummiphones from Kingdom Hearts 3, but fans remain hopeful for new features like a pseudo-Instagram app for in-game photography.

The release of these screenshots marks a significant moment for Kingdom Hearts enthusiasts, coming after a period of scarce official updates about Kingdom Hearts 4. Initially announced in April 2022 during the Kingdom Hearts 20th Anniversary event, fans are eager to avoid another decade-long wait like the one experienced between Kingdom Hearts 2 and Kingdom Hearts 3.

For more insights into Kingdom Hearts 4, explore our detailed article below!