Summary
TheKingdom Heartscommunity remains vigilant in its never-ending wait forKingdom Hearts 4. Although Sora seems to be making his debut inFortnitewhile theKingdom Hearts: Missing Linkmobile game draws near, it seems Square Enix and Disney have little to say about the next majorKHentry right now. Fans have been able to enjoy theKingdom Heartsseries’ release on Steam midway through 2024, but with rumors paintingKingdom Hearts 4as potentially far off as 2026, it seems like everyone will need to be patient for a little while longer.
OnceKingdom Hearts 4rears its head again, hopes are high for it to make a big splash. Having switched over to the parallel universe of Quadratum, Sora’s adventures should continue with sights, sounds, and friends never before seen in the franchise. Old faces and foes will also play some role, but the extent isn’t known yet. Much has yet to be revealed aboutKingdom Hearts 4’s world selectionand story, though there are still murmurs about potentialStar WarsorMCUappearances. That would definitely make some waves, but a crossover fromKH’s other owner could hit just as hard.
It’s Time For Kingdom Hearts To Adapt A New Square Enix Property
The core ofKingdom Heartsas an IP is its fusion of Square Enix and Disney elements. Its balance has skewed more towards Disney over the years, withKingdom Hearts’ original charactersreplacingFinal Fantasyones as the main Square Enix representatives. Plenty of discussion has been had about this sinceKH3’s launch, butKingdom Hearts 4offers a fresh start for something new to arise. The conceit ofKingdom Heartsis that all of Square Enix and all of Disney are mashed together, so it’s time for another classic Square Enix property to take the limelight.
There’s a Precedent For Kingdom Hearts Referencing Different Square Enix Games
Small references to other Square Enix franchises include things like an Einhander boss appearing in the Gummi Ship section ofKingdom Hearts 3, but the biggest deviation fromFinal Fantasyfolk has to be inDream Drop Distance. Its dream version of Traverse Town is populated byThe World Ends With Youcharacters instead ofthe usualFinal Fantasyand classic Disney mix. Such a large deviation in crossover material has never been seen before or since, butKingdom Hearts 4’s new setting makes it the perfect time to throw the doors open as wide as possible.
Dragon Quest Should Debut In Kingdom Hearts 4
Because of how focused Kingdom Hearts normally is on exploring Disney worlds, there are plenty of Square Enix franchises left to tap. Among them, theDragon Questseries stands head and shoulders above the rest as Square Enix’s biggest long-running RPG series next toFinal Fantasy, and the most deserving of aKingdom Heartscameo. The release ofDragon Quest 11saw the series reach new heights of popularity in the West, so as fitting asFFcharacters like Lightning, Noctis, orClive Rosfield might seem inKH4, some old-schoolDQfantasy could work just as well in specific Disney worlds.
Kingdom Hearts 4 Has Plenty Of Room For Dragon Quest Content
It’s possible that the also-currently-silentDragon Quest 12could lend some of its characters toKingdom Hearts 4, allowing the two Square Enix games to synergize. Even if Square Enix opts for more recognizable faces likeDragon Quest’s iconic Slime, a Hero like Eleven, or various party members from the first fewDragon Questgames, they would still work as a meta parallel to theFinal Fantasycharacters inKingdom Hearts’ old reality. Regardless of how it manifests,Kingdom Hearts 4should get cheers from around the globe by workingDragon Questelements into its bold new worlds.
