Highlights
- Kingdom Hearts 4 was announced in April 2022, but developer Square Enix has been quiet about the game since then.
- There are upcoming events like Gamescom, D23 Expo, and Tokyo Game Show where new information about Kingdom Hearts 4 might be revealed.
- Fans of Kingdom Hearts 4 should pay attention to September, as both the D23 Expo and Tokyo Game Show could potentially provide updates on the game.
Kingdom Hearts 4 was first announced back in April 2022 with a cinematic trailer that showed Sora separated from Donald and Goofy in the strange new world of Quadratum. While this trailer was impressive and demonstrated the advancements Kingdom Hearts 4 will make from its predecessors, developer Square Enix has been relatively quiet about the title since this initial reveal. However, there are several upcoming events that offer likely opportunities for more Kingdom Hearts 4 information to be revealed that eager fans of the series might want to keep an eye on.
Fans who remember Kingdom Hearts 3's lengthy development cycle might be feeling cause for concern with the sparse Kingdom Hearts 4 information over the past year. While these concerns are valid based on the series' past precedent, there is still time for Kingdom Hearts 4 to provide fans with an update and give some insight as to how the development process is going and when fans can expect a release. Square Enix has several major projects in the works, but the popularity of the Kingdom Hearts series means fans likely won't be left in the dark about the game's progress.
Kingdom Hearts 4 Fan May Not Have to Wait Long for an Update
Despite Kingdom Hearts 4 failing to appear at any of the games showcases in the past few months, it could make an appearance is at Gamescom 2023 at the end of the month. Although Gamescom doesn't have the same draw of a specific Sony or Microsoft specific showcase, the event's Opening Night Live will be hosted by The Game Awards' Geoff Keighley and promises world premieres and exciting announcements. Given events like The Game Awards and Summer Games Fest that Geoff Keighley hosts have a history of showcasing popular titles, it seems possible that Gamescom's Opening Night Live could feature a new trailer for Kingdom Hearts 4.
While a trailer at Gamescom is possible, it is far more likely that Kingdom Hearts 4 will get some sort of update at Disney's D23 2023 Expo in early September. D23 is not a gaming-specific event and is instead geared towards all things Disney, but the event has a history of showcasing new Kingdom Hearts news during Kingdom Hearts 3's development cycle. If Kingdom Hearts 4 has new information to share or a new trailer to show this year, it will most likely be revealed during the upcoming D23 Expo.
If Kingdom Hearts 4 is not present at either of these events, there is also the possibility that it could appear at the Tokyo Game Show at the end of September. Kingdom Hearts 4 has a greater chance of appearing here than at Gamescom since it is geared towards Japanese developers, and Square Enix has already been confirmed as an exhibitor for the convention. The Tokyo Game Show also has a history as a source of Kingdom Hearts news, so it is possible this trend will continue as long as Square Enix has something new to show regarding the game.
Kingdom Hearts 4 fans will want to keep a close watch on September as there are two events during the month that seem like the most likely avenues new information about the game will come from. The D23 expo runs from September 8-10, but since it covers all things Disney from films to theme parks, gaming news will likely only be a small portion of the event. On the other hand, the Tokyo Game Show runs from September 21-23 and will feature a primary focus on games, but will include many developers aside from just Square Enix, so it's ultimately anyone's guess as to whether Kingdom Hearts 4 news will come out of either event.
Kingdom Hearts 4 is now in development by Square Enix.