Square Enix announces Kingdom Hearts 4

Square Enix announced Kingdom Hearts IV on March 18, 2024, marking the return of the long-awaited series. The game will feature a new iteration of the protagonist, Sora, who appears in a more realistic art style than in previous installments. Kingdom Hearts IV is confirmed to be in development for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC, with a potential release on the Nintendo Switch 2 also indicated. The announcement trailer showcased Sora in a modern-day Tokyo-like setting, a departure from the series' typical fantasy worlds, and introduced a new character named Strelitzia. The trailer also hinted at the return of Donald Duck and Goofy, though their appearance was brief. The narrative appears to be setting up a new arc for the series, with the "Lost Master Arc" being explicitly mentioned. While no release date has been provided, the announcement signifies a significant step forward for the franchise after a considerable period since the last main entry, Kingdom Hearts III, which was released in 2019. The game's development is being handled by Square Enix's Osaka studio, the same team behind Kingdom Hearts III and Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue.