Summary
- Image celebrating FF7 Rebirth launch sparked speculation about Kingdom Hearts 4.
- Speculation includes new worlds, Disney brand integration, and more Final Fantasy.
- Unveiling Kingdom Hearts 4 in congratulatory post would be unlikely but anticipation remains high.
It has been some time since Kingdom Hearts 4 was in the news, but what some thought could be the first official look at the game in some time has emerged alongside the launch of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth. An image shared on the game's official accounts to celebrate the wide release of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth ignited speculation about Sora's new circumstances in Kingdom Hearts 4.
Ever since Kingdom Hearts 4 was revealed back in April 2022, Square Enix has kept its cards close to its chest, showing little about Sora's further adventures despite fan impatience. In the meantime, speculation and hype has filled the void, with calls and theories abounding about everything from worlds themed after recent Disney animated movies to calls for the integration of broader Disney-owned brands like Marvel and Star Wars.
The Case For Kingdom Hearts 4 to Be More Final Fantasy Than Disney
For Kingdom Hearts 4, Square Enix may want to consider upping the dosage of Final Fantasy content while reeling in Disney's contributions.
Kingdom Hearts 4 Celebrates the Release of FF7 Rebirth
The latest drip in the trickle of Kingdom Hearts info came courtesy of a post made by the official Kingdom Hearts Twitter account. The post included an image of Sora from Kingdom Hearts 3 standing at a city intersection. A message in the corner of the image congratulates Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth on its wide release.
The image, which was taken from Kingdom Hearts 3, was mistaken by many fans to be a new image from Kingdom Hearts 4, igniting speculation. Some were excited at what they thought was a new look at Quadratum, the modern-looking city that serves as the setting of Kingdom Hearts 4. They noticed the stylized, alien text on the signs and billboards, and the clear visual references to actual locations like Shibuya's 109 department store. Others looked to the render of Sephiroth as a sign of his return to Kingdom Hearts after appearing in Kingdom Hearts 2 as a secret boss.
Some other commentators took a more measured response, reminding confused fans that the image isn't from Kingdom Hearts 4 but from Kingdom Hearts 3's secret ending, edited to show Sephiroth. They also pointed out that a Kingdom Hearts 4 image likely wouldn't show Sora with his Kingdom Hearts 3 design and proportions, rather than the more realistic, seemingly mature Sora of Kingdom Hearts 4. Finally, they reasoned that Square Enix wouldn't drop a major Kingdom Hearts 4 reveal in a throwaway congratulatory post for a different, unrelated game.
Despite the connections between the creative teams behind Kingdom Hearts and Final Fantasy 7 - least of all through legendary developer Tetsuya Nomura, who played key roles in the development of both series - it wouldn't be good marketing to tease Kingdom Hearts 4 in promotional tweets for a different, unrelated title. But even if the Twitter post has no real definitive connection to Kingdom Hearts 4, the excitement it stirred up speaks to the anticipation Kingdom Hearts fans have for the game, as it continues along its path to release, whenever that might be.
Kingdom Hearts 4
- ESRB
- e
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix
- Publisher(s)
- Square Enix
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.
