"Kingdom Hearts Missing-Link Cancelled; Square Enix Focuses on Kingdom Hearts 4"

The much-anticipated mobile game, Kingdom Hearts Missing-Link, a GPS-based action-RPG, has been officially cancelled by Square Enix. The game was set to explore the new realm of Scala ad Caelum with an original story centered around the ongoing battle against the Heartless, and was initially scheduled for release in 2024. Despite the disappointment, there's a silver lining for fans of the series as Square Enix has confirmed that they are diligently working on Kingdom Hearts 4.

In a statement released on the game's X/Twitter account, Square Enix expressed their "heartfelt apologies" to all who were eagerly awaiting Kingdom Hearts Missing-Link. The decision to cancel the project stemmed from the realization that it would be challenging to deliver a service that would satisfy players over an extended period. The statement did not delve into the specific difficulties encountered 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. We would like to take this opportunity to express our thanks to everyone who gave us their support and assistance with the multiple closed beta tests. We are truly sorry to have to make this announcement."

Despite this setback, Square Enix reassured fans that the Kingdom Hearts series will continue, and they are "hard at work on Kingdom Hearts 4," urging fans to stay tuned for future updates. This update marks the first mention of the eagerly awaited Kingdom Hearts 4 in months, following a brief and enigmatic tease in January. Although Kingdom Hearts 4 was announced in September 2022 with a cinematic trailer, Square Enix has maintained a low profile since, keeping fans on the edge of their seats in true series fashion.

Series director Tetsuya Nomura has hinted that Kingdom Hearts 4 will mark a significant shift in the series' narrative, aiming to steer the story, after 22 years and 18 games, towards its long-awaited conclusion.