Kingdom Hearts 4 is still a huge mystery in the industry right now, but the action adventure franchise is bound to have plenty of Disney franchises packed into its story. A unique blend of Disney IPs and Final Fantasy, Kingdom Hearts is a gaming franchise that truly has its own special identity. As the wait for Kingdom Hearts 4 continues, speculation has continued to arise regarding which DIsney characters will be present in the game.
Disney's franchise catalog has changed a lot since the first Kingdom Hearts game launched back in 2002. Since then, Disney has bought both Marvel and Star Wars, two of the biggest names in pop culture. There was a chance for both franchises to appear in KH3, but that never came to fruition. However, now that fellow Disney game, Disney Dreamlight Valley, recently introduced Star Wars content, the door is wide open for KH4 to cover the Marvel representation.
Final Fantasy 16 is a Complicated Role Model for Kingdom Hearts 4
One Square Enix game may guide another, but not without complications; Kingdom Hearts 4 may still chart its own course.
After Disney Dreamlight Valley's Star Wars Content, Kingdom Hearts 4 Bringing Marvel to the Series Feels More Possible Than Ever
Before this Star Wars crossover, Disney Dreamlight Valley had remained fairly purist in its approach to Disney content, focusing mostly on the company's original animated IP. This made Disney Dreamlight Valley a compelling entry in its own right, but the arrival of Star Wars has marked a new era for the life sim game that is full of fresh potential. It's possible that Marvel could also make its way into Disney Dreamlight Valley, but KH4 may be a better option, as it would keep the latter from feeling overcrowded with franchises that aren't original Disney properties.
Disney Dreamlight Valley's Star Wars items are available in the game's shop until May 14.
Kingdom Hearts 4 Teaming Up With Either Star Wars or Marvel Feels Inevitable
If KH4 is destined to bring Star Wars or Marvel to its world, choosing the latter may be the best choice. Of course, both could be included, but that risks overcrowding KH4, just as it could push the limits of Disney Dreamlight Valley. The two games hinge on being tied to classic Disney, so if a modern Disney-owned franchise is going to be thrown into the mix, it will be more effective to stick to just one instead of both. Disney Dreamlight Valley has Star Wars covered, so KH4 feels set to have its own Marvel world.
Kingdom Hearts is a gaming franchise that truly has its own special identity.
Iconic locations like Stark Tower or Wakanda could be great options to serve as a centerpiece for a Marvel-based world in KH4. Of course, there has yet to be any confirmation of KH4 embracing the superhero brand, but at this point, it would be incredibly surprising for developer Square Enix to not take the opportunity. Both Marvel and Star Wars have become massive moneymakers for Disney, and KH4 choosing to feature one of them could potentially pull in a lot of new players.
Kingdom Hearts Missing-Link, a mobile spin-off, has been delayed indefinitely. It's unclear if this has affected the development of KH4.
Fans Still Eagerly Await Fresh Kingdom Hearts 4 News
The first trailer for KH4 was revealed in 2022 to celebrate the franchise's 20th anniversary, and since that first trailer, Square Enix has kept fairly silent about the game's progress, which has caused some fans to worry. Ultimately, no news is potentially good news, as it likely means that KH4 is simply still in production. However, 2025 is hopefully the year that will shed more light on KH4.
Only time will tell which Disney properties are chosen to be included in KH4. The addition of Marvel seems highly likely, but there is always room for surprises. When the game is ready, though, it will be exciting to see how KH4 chooses to shake up the series.
- ESRB
- e
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix
- Publisher(s)
- Square Enix
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 5
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer
- Franchise
- Kingdom Hearts
