Kingdom Hearts Missing-Link Canceled, but Square Enix Promises Progress on KH4

In a disappointing turn of events for fans, Square Enix has announced the cancellation of Kingdom Hearts Missing-Link, the highly anticipated GPS-based action-RPG for mobile devices. The game, which promised to transport players to the enchanting realm of Scala ad Caelum and weave a new, original story in the ongoing battle against the Heartless, was initially set to launch in 2024. However, in an unsigned statement shared on the game's X/Twitter account, Square Enix expressed profound apologies to those eagerly awaiting its release, citing difficulties in providing a service that could satisfy players over an extended period as the reason for the cancellation. The specifics of these challenges were not disclosed in the statement.

"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, there is a silver lining for fans of the Kingdom Hearts series. Square Enix reassured enthusiasts that the franchise is far from over and that development on Kingdom Hearts 4 is progressing diligently. "The Kingdom Hearts series will continue," the statement affirmed, encouraging fans to stay tuned for further updates on the eagerly awaited sequel.

This marks the first official update on Kingdom Hearts 4 in months, following a tiny, cryptic tease back in January. Although the game was unveiled in September 2022 with a full cinematic trailer, developer Square Enix has maintained a low profile since then, leaving fans eagerly awaiting more information. Series director Tetsuya Nomura has hinted that Kingdom Hearts 4 will, after 22 years and 18 games, start to steer the overarching narrative of the series towards its conclusion, adding to the anticipation surrounding its release.