Kingdom Hearts 4: A Series Reboot

Kingdom Hearts’ creator Tetsuya Nomura recently suggested that the fourth mainline installment will mark a pivotal moment for the series. Read on to learn more about his comments on this new chapter in the Kingdom Hearts series.

Tetsuya Nomura Hints at the Series’ Culmination with Kingdom Hearts 4Kingdom Hearts 4 Will Feature a Story Reset, Said Nomura

The future of the Kingdom Hearts series appears both captivating and potentially definitive, according to a recent interview with series creator Tetsuya Nomura. As fans eagerly anticipate Kingdom Hearts 4, Nomura offered insights suggesting the next chapter could be a significant turning point for the franchise.

In an interview with Young Jump, translated by KH13, Nomura disclosed that Kingdom Hearts 4 is being developed "with the intention of it being a narrative that leads to the conclusion." While this doesn’t guarantee the series will end with this installment, it positions the game as potentially the final saga in the Kingdom Hearts story. The upcoming game initiates the "Lost Master Arc," a fresh narrative that will enable both new and veteran players to engage without needing extensive familiarity with prior intricate storylines.

"If you recall how Kingdom Hearts III concludes, you'll understand that Sora ends up that way because he's ‘resetting’ the narrative," said Nomura. "So Kingdom Hearts IV should be more accessible than before. I believe that if you enjoy the series, you'll feel like 'this is it', but I also hope that as many new players as possible will experience it."

While Nomura’s remarks suggest that Kingdom Hearts 4 may conclude the primary narrative, it’s crucial to contemplate the franchise’s past. Kingdom Hearts has consistently been a series brimming with unexpected turns. What might appear as a conclusive finale could allow for diverse interpretations or pave the way for subsequent spin-offs or supplementary narratives. Moreover, the series boasts a wide-ranging and vibrant ensemble of characters, any of whom could potentially star in their own future escapades, particularly now that Nomura has disclosed that new writers are joining the Kingdom Hearts universe.

"Both Kingdom Hearts Missing Link and Kingdom Hearts IV have been developed with a heightened emphasis on being novel installments rather than continuations," Nomura informed Young Jump. "For instance, as a novel endeavor, we've included personnel previously uninvolved with the Kingdom Hearts series in scenario writing. Naturally, I will oversee the final product, but I don't envision it being framed as a project requiring completion in the sense that a writer unfamiliar with the 'Kingdom Hearts' series is establishing a new foundation."

The introduction of new authors is an exciting prospect for the series. It could inject fresh energy into the narrative while preserving the core elements that fans cherish. New viewpoints could introduce innovative gameplay mechanics and unexplored territories within the Disney and Square Enix crossover.

However, while Nomura’s creative vision has been essential to the series’ success (and often, bewilderment), he has confirmed that he is considering retirement in a few years. Before retiring, though, he poses a challenge to himself: "If this isn't a dream, then I only have a few years left until I retire, and it's looking like: will I retire or will I complete the series first?"

New Arc, New Beginnings

Announced in April 2022, Kingdom Hearts 4 is under development. The game’s initial trailer showcases the start of the "Lost Master Arc." Currently, plot details are scarce, but the trailer shows Sora awakening in Quadratum, a realm Nomura, in a 2022 Famitsu interview, depicted as an alternate reality akin to ours.

"From each perspective, perceptions differ," Nomura stated, per VGC's translation. "To Sora, Quadratum's a fictional underworld, unlike reality. Yet, to Quadratum's residents, it's reality; Sora's world is the fictional realm."

Nomura, in a recent Young Jump interview, clarified that this Tokyo-esque world, possessing a dreamlike aura, isn't entirely novel; he conceived it during the first game's development.

Compared to the fanciful, Disney-focused realms of previous titles, Quadratum presents a more down-to-earth and lifelike setting. As a result of this and the enhanced visual fidelity, the number of Disney worlds will be reduced.

"With regards to Kingdom Hearts IV, players are definitely going to see a few Disney worlds in there," Nomura told GameInformer back in 2022. "Since each new title, the specifications have been really increasing, and there’s so much more we can do in terms of graphics, it kind of limits the number of worlds that we can create in a sense. At this time, we’re considering how to approach that, but there will be Disney worlds in Kingdom Hearts IV."

While it’s a shame to see a reduction in the number of Disney worlds Sora will explore in the next entry—a core element of the series since its inception—Nomura’s decision to simplify the worlds could lead to a more concentrated narrative, which would help alleviate the complexity that has occasionally overwhelmed players in previous installments, even if legal considerations aren’t the main factor.

Whether Kingdom Hearts 4 brings the series closer to its conclusion or initiates a new chapter, it will be a momentous occasion in Sora's journey and that of his faithful companions. For many fans, the prospect of witnessing Kingdom Hearts' culmination under Nomura's guidance, while poignant, will be a grand finale to a tale spanning over two decades.