In a disappointing turn of events for fans, Square Enix has announced the cancellation of Kingdom Hearts Missing-Link, the eagerly awaited GPS-based action-RPG designed for mobile platforms. This game was set to explore the enchanting realm of Scala ad Caelum and introduce a fresh, original narrative in the ongoing saga against the Heartless. Originally scheduled for release in 2024, the project has been abandoned due to concerns over long-term player satisfaction.
Square Enix shared their decision through an unsigned statement on the game's X/Twitter account, expressing their "heartfelt apologies to everyone who have been looking forward" to the launch. The statement did not delve into the specific challenges they faced but acknowledged the difficulty in delivering a service that would meet player expectations over time. "Although we worked hard on developing and adjusting the game in the hope that it would be enjoyed by lots of players, we determined that it would be difficult for us to offer a service that players would find satisfactory over a long period of time, leading us to the decision to cancel development," the statement read.
The company also extended gratitude to the community for their support during the multiple closed beta tests and apologized for the cancellation. Despite this setback, Square Enix reassured fans that the "Kingdom Hearts series will continue," and provided a glimmer of hope by confirming they are "hard at work on Kingdom Hearts 4, and hope you'll continue to support the series as you keep an eye out for further updates."
This mention of Kingdom Hearts 4 marks the first official update on the highly-anticipated sequel in months, the last being a tiny, cryptic tease back in January. Despite its reveal in September 2022 with a full cinematic trailer, developer Square Enix has remained largely silent since, maintaining the series' tradition of leaving fans eager for more.
Kingdom Hearts series director Tetsuya Nomura has hinted that Kingdom Hearts 4 will begin to steer the expansive narrative, spanning 22 years and 18 games, towards its much-anticipated conclusion.
