Square Enix and Disney announce Kingdom Hearts 4 in video celebrating 20th anniversary of Kingdom Hearts

It's been 20 years since the release of the original Kingdom Hearts on the PlayStation 2. What started as a novel elevator conversation between a producer from Square Enix and an executive at Disney has become a global gaming phenomenon known for its convoluted plot and highly stylized action-RPG gameplay. Today, Square Enix and Disney announced the next installment in the storied Kingdom Hearts franchise: Kingdom Hearts 4.

The reveal trailer for the next mainline entry in the Kingdom Hearts series was the finale of an announcement video posted earlier today. The trailer opens on a slightly older Sora (the main protagonist of the series) who appears to now be a young adult. Sora wakes up on a couch in a modern, clean apartment.

He is informed by another character (Strelitzia from Kingdom Hearts Union χ) that he's been asleep since arriving in this world, known as Quadratum, seven days prior. Upon Sora's waking, a massive heartless (the famous Darkside boss enemy) materializes in a downtown area that evokes modern-day Tokyo.

While citizens flee, Sora charges ahead, summoning his Keyblade and engaging in a highly stylized and cinematic fight. The gameplay shown in the trailer is subject to change, but in its current form, it feels like watching a CGI movie rather than playing a game.

Nothing else was said about the title at this time, including a release date or platform.

In addition to Kingdom Hearts 4, two more titles in the Kingdom Hearts franchise were announced. The final chapter in the Union χ Dark Road mobile app is slated for release in August 2022.

A new mobile title, Kingdom Hearts Missing-Link, was also announced. Missing Link, which will be released in a close Beta later this year, evokes gameplay from the mainline titles: quick, reaction-based hack-and-slash action with RPG elements. It stars a new character in the world of Scala ad Caelum, which looks similar to Victorian England in style and architecture.

Need to catch up on the Kingdom Hearts story? Buy Kingdom Hearts 3 at Amazon.