Kingdom Hearts 4 is the highly anticipated next chapter in the long-running franchise by Square Enix. Mixing elements of Final Fantasy and Disney icons, Kingdom Hearts 4 is set to be one of the biggest releases in the series yet. With over 20 years of games in its history, Kingdom Hearts 4 will continue a long legacy, but there may be a surprising way to include Nintendo this time around.

Kingdom Hearts is known for featuring characters and details from major Disney franchises, but an unexpected crossover involving Kingdom Hearts and Nintendo could have major implications for the upcoming fourth game. Back in 2021, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate surprised many players by making Kingdom Hearts protagonist Sora the final character added to the game. With Sora being part of a game that is heavily tied to Disney, adding the character to a non-Disney property seemed impossible, but NIntendo made it happen.

Related

Kingdom Hearts 4 is the Perfect Time to Hit the Reset Button on Spin-Off Games

Although spin-off games have kept Kingdom Hearts going, future spin-offs need a fresh start when it comes to the franchise's main plot.

Sora's Nintendo Feature Could Influence Kingdom Hearts 4

Due to the nature of Kingdom Hearts, it's a given that the next game will feature plenty of new Disney-themed cameos. There is plenty of speculation about what new franchises will make an appearance in Kingdom Hearts 4, but there is now a chance for the game to completely surprise fans by referencing Nintendo in some way.

Kingdom Hearts 4 Returning The Favor

Thanks to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate throwing Sora into the game's already impressive roster, it's now time for Kingdom Hearts 4 to return the favor. Adding Sora to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate was proof that Disney can be at least a little bit flexible with their properties. Being able to include Sora in a Nintendo property was a major win for the company and its brawler title, and it only makes sense that Nintendo could possibly get the same treatment from Disney.

Thanks to this collaboration between Disney and Nintendo, seeing small references or cameos from Nintendo characters in Kingdom Hearts 4 is no longer outside the realm of possibility. Cameos in Kingdom Hearts have become one of the most important aspects of the game, and featuring a Nintendo character in some small way would be a massive surprise. When it comes to its image, Disney has grown a reputation for being incredibly particular with what the company features, but allowing Sora to be in a non-Disney franchise was a huge move for the company. This collaboration could have been the first seeds planted in growing a larger collaboration.

Kingdom Hearts 4 Featuring Nintendo

Although a Nintendo reference being added to Kingdom Hearts 4 is unlikely, it's not impossible. It's time for Kingdom Hearts to subvert expectations in some exciting ways, and referencing Nintendo would be a bold way to start. Returning the favor of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate doesn't have to be a full-blown feature of a Nintendo character, but a small reference hinting at the acknowledgment of the company would be enough to make both corporations even.

It could ultimately be jarring to see the likes of Mario or Bowser making a random appearance in Kingdom Hearts 4, but it could also be a hilariously unexpected feature. Whether it's a cameo or just a subtle reference, it would be a great way for Sora's Super Smash Bros. Ultimate cameo to have its full circle moment.

Kingdom Hearts 4

Franchise

Kingdom Hearts

Platform(s)

PS5 , Xbox Series X|S

Developer(s)

Square Enix

Publisher(s)

Square Enix

Genre(s)

RPG , Action