"Kingdom Hearts Missing-Link Cancelled, But Square Enix Promises Progress on Kingdom Hearts 4"

Fans of the Kingdom Hearts series received bittersweet news recently when Square Enix announced the cancellation of Kingdom Hearts Missing-Link, a GPS-based action-RPG that was set to launch on mobile devices in 2024. The game would have introduced players to the enchanting realm of Scala ad Caelum, featuring an original story in the ongoing battle against the Heartless.

In a statement shared on the game's X/Twitter account, Square Enix expressed their "heartfelt apologies to everyone who have been looking forward" to Kingdom Hearts Missing-Link. The decision to cancel was made after the developers concluded that it would be "difficult to offer a service that players would find satisfactory over a long period of time." The statement did not go into detail about the specific challenges faced during development.

"We wish to convey our heartfelt apologies to everyone who has been looking forward to the start of service," the statement read. "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."

Square Enix took the opportunity to thank those who participated in the multiple closed beta tests and reiterated their regret over the cancellation. However, the statement ended on a hopeful note, assuring fans that "the Kingdom Hearts series will continue," and confirmed that the team is "hard at work on Kingdom Hearts 4," encouraging fans to stay tuned for future updates.

This mention of Kingdom Hearts 4 is the first official update on the eagerly awaited sequel in months, following a tiny, cryptic tease back in January. Despite its reveal in September 2022 with a full cinematic trailer, Square Enix has remained relatively silent on the project, continuing the series' tradition of keeping fans eagerly anticipating more details.

Series director Tetsuya Nomura has hinted that Kingdom Hearts 4 will mark a significant turning point for the franchise. After 22 years and 18 games, the narrative will finally begin to shift towards its conclusion, offering fans a long-awaited resolution to the epic saga.