Despite well over two years since its initial reveal, the highly anticipatedKingdom Hearts 4still has no release date in sight. With silence continuing as director Tetsuya Nomura and the Square Enix team have been occupied with various other major projects, it seems clear that the title could be following the pattern of long development cycles between entries. Given the pattern of promotional periods ahead of the main games in the series,Kingdom Hearts 4still has the chance to be shown off throughout this year.
There have been relatively consistent releases over the years sinceKingdom Heartsbegan, but the numbered titles have always seen the largest gaps between announcement and eventual launch. While there’s still the potential forKH4to take as long asKingdom Hearts 3’s extended production timeline, several events set to take place this year could be where trailers make their debuts.
Kingdom Hearts 4 May Have Become the Victim of a Premature Reveal
Tetsuya Nomura’s Comments on Finishing the Series Indicate a Lengthy Timeline is Still on the Table
FollowingNomura’s statements on the future ofKingdom Heartsin a 2024 interview with Young Jump, it seems reasonable to assume that he could plan on being occupied with the series until his eventual retirement. Considering that he appears to be focused onFF7Remake’s third part, ongoing support forRebirth, the upcomingKingdom Hearts Missing Link, and possibly new projects at Square Enix, it’s safe to say that his attention could have been mostly diverted fromKingdom Hearts 4over the last couple of years. While this doesn’t mean a 2025 launch is out of the question entirely, it’s unlikely that the nextKingdom Heartswill come without building up to its release date first.
Following in the Footsteps of KH3’s Prolonged Hype Cycle
It seems that thereveal ofKingdom Hearts 4’s new arcdidn’t come at a significant milestone in development, evoking the infamous wait for the third numbered entry of the series.Kingdom Hearts 3would see years of development following its initial teaser trailer, undergoing an engine change amid the launches of several other titles in the six years leading up to its release. Another connecting game was set to debut prior to the upcoming sequel, but its changed status could indicate a longer wait than expected.
Kingdom Hearts Missing-Link Could Be a Necessary Prerequisite
After originally being slated to come last year and bridge the gap between the previous and new eras, thedelay ofKingdom Hearts Missing Linkhas potentially pushedKingdom Hearts 4back. It was announced at the same time and has therefore been awaited for just as long, but it at least had a 2023 open beta that showcased its progress. This title is now seemingly slated for this year and its status remains as being possibly necessary set-up for the next game.
Another Trailer for Kingdom Hearts 4 is What Fans Should Hope for in 2025
Comparing the Release Timelines of the Franchise
Looking at the pattern of the promotional cycles associated withevery majorKingdom Heartstitle in the series, it’s clear that the wait forKingdom Hearts 4has already become one of the longest in the IP’s history. It’s been anticipated for a length of time that only the nearly six-year wait forKingdom Hearts 3has outpaced it.
There has been a focus onnewKingdom Heartsremastersand ports alike during both of these waiting periods, meaning the upcoming sequel could be following a similar roadmap with its promotion. A history of trailers dedicated to mostKingdom Heartstitles reveals that they premier consistently a year or two ahead of release has developed over time, so there would need to be some progress soon if a 2026 or 2027 launch is indeed being targeted.
10 months
E3 2001, TGS 2001 (Demo)
14 months
TGS 2003, Jump Festa 2003 (Demo)
27 months
TGS 2003, E3 2004
November 2008
September 2007, Jump Festa 2008, August 2008, TGS 2008 (Demo), Jump Festa 2009 (Demo)
20 months
TGS 2008, Jump Festa 2008 (Demo), E3 2009
January 2010
28 months
TGS 2008, Jump Festa 2008, August 2008 (Demo), TGS 2009 (Demo), Jump Festa 2010 (Demo)
21 months
January 2019
67 months
E3 2013, E3 2014, E3 2015, June 2017, D23 Japan 2018, E3 2018 (Demo), November 2018
5 months
33 months (So far)
April 2022 (Kingdom Hearts20th-anniversary event)
What a KH4 Trailer in 2025 is Likely to Contain
Given the precedent set by the promotion leading up to the launches of priorKingdom Heartstitles, the possible content of trailers this year is relatively predictable. While the main story and its core conflict could remain a mystery, it’s safe to anticipate the reveal of severalnew Disney worlds inKingdom Hearts 4and a preview of the new combat system. This would be in contrast to the seemingly CGI announcement trailer the game received, and will finally address whether Donald and Goofy will be returning as companions.
There’s a rumored Square Enix Presents set to take place in February, the first of the company’s since E3 2021. This could be the ideal setting for aKingdom Hearts 4gameplay showcasefollowing its absence from last year’s industry events. It would be surprising to see it once again sit out every major promotion opportunity for another year. Outside a first-party reveal, 2025 gaming events to look out for in the current post-E3 landscape include:
Kingdom Hearts 4
Kingdom Hearts 4 is an action RPG developed by Square Enix and represents the fifteenth installment in the franchise. Players once again are put in the shoes of Sora who is suddenly trapped in a more realistic world called Quadratum, with companions like Donald and Goofy attempting to rescue him. Kingdom Hearts 4 is a direct sequel to Kingdom Hearts 3 and Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory.
