Summary
- Kingdom Hearts Union X Dark Road has been quietly removed from digital storefronts.
- The mobile spin-off title focused on the primary antagonist of the three mainline games, Xehanort.
- It's unclear why the game was delisted, and fans wonder if it will be re-released in the future.
The Kingdom Hearts mobile spin-off Kingdom Hearts Union X Dark Road was recently removed from digital storefronts, meaning that fans will no longer be able to purchase this entry in the long-running JRPG crossover franchise. Kingdom Hearts has seen many sequels and spin-offs on various platforms over the past two decades, from mainline console entries to handheld installments like Birth by Sleep and 358/2 Days. Each game provides more pieces of the sprawling narrative puzzle detailing Sora's adventures through many Disney worlds and the battle between light and darkness that serves as the core of the franchise.
One such piece is Kingdom Hearts Union X Dark Road, a mobile spin-off that was released on iOS and Android devices in 2020 with an offline version appearing a few years later. Set before the events of the main Kingdom Hearts games, Union X Dark Road told the backstory of Xehanort, the primary antagonist of the “Dark Seeker Saga” that spanned the series from the first game until Kingdom Hearts 3.
Unfortunately, it appears that curious Kingdom Hearts fans won’t be able to experience this prequel adventure in its original form. As reported by outlets like GameSpot, Kingdom Hearts Union X Dark Road was quietly delisted from the Apple and Google Play stores last week, without any acknowledgment or explanation from publisher Square Enix. While the game itself is inaccessible, the official Kingdom Hearts Union X Dark Road website is still active for the time being.
Fans Can No Longer Play Kingdom Hearts Union X Dark Road
This sudden removal has left many fans disappointed, especially since the aforementioned offline version eliminated the need to maintain the original Union X Dark Road’s live-service elements. Another issue surrounding Kingdom Hearts Union X Dark Road’s delisting is the game’s potential significance to the upcoming title Kingdom Hearts 4. While Xehanort himself met his end in Kingdom Hearts 3, fans spotted Strelitzia, a major character in the Kingdom Hearts mobile games, in the Kingdom Hearts 4 trailer. There, she meets up with Sora, who finds himself in a mysterious alternate realm called Quadratum.
Now that Kingdom Hearts Union X Dark Road has been taken off digital platforms, players who didn’t get to experience it will miss out on Strelitzia’s backstory and connection to the larger Kingdom Hearts timeline. Some Kingdom Hearts fans are hoping to see the mobile games get remade or re-released in the future, something that has already happened with some past entries in the series.
- Released
- April 7, 2016
- ESRB
- m
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix
- Publisher(s)
- Square Enix
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 4
- Franchise
- Kingdom Hearts
WHERE TO PLAY
KINGDOM HEARTS DARK ROAD can be played easily with taps and swipes on your smart phone and is stress free with no complicated leveling or evolving! Level up through Auto Mode or enjoy strategic battles with bosses. Why did Master Xehanort, a major figure in the KINGDOM HEARTS series, become the seeker of darkness? That very mystery paints the story of his youth as he studies to become a Keyblade Wielder
After leaving the island he calls home following an encounter with a mysterious figure, Xehanort now spends his days studying alongside his classmates to become a great Keyblade wielder. He has an extremely curious and inquisitive nature, though his indifferent manner might suggest otherwise.
