While 2024 has been light onKingdom Heartsnews, prospects for 2025 are looking up.Kingdom Hearts 4remains on the horizon, but recent rumors suggest that it may be shown later next year to make way for a 2026 release. Meanwhile,Kingdom Hearts: Missing Linkhas been sitting in limbo for a while, but will probably strive to launch beforeKingdom Hearts 4does. Even with the series’ previous story arc having ended inKingdom Hearts 3in 2019, there are still a lot of dangling story threads, so it’d be great to seeKHmoving forward again.
That’s especially true now that it seems like the end is in sight.Kingdom Hearts 4has been referred to by Square Enix staff as the “beginning of the end” forKingdom Hearts, at least regarding the current plot and characters. It’s currently unclear how longKH4’s Lost Master arcis intended to last, especially with so little known about the next numbered title right now. However, being part of what may be the series’ last multi-game saga will probably shape its choices in storytelling and Disney world crossovers, making high priority worlds more prominent than ever before.
Which Disney Worlds Likely Won’t Return In Kingdom Hearts 4
IfKingdom Hearts 4represents “the beginning of the end,” then time will be too limited to revisit every past Disney world before the story ends. Square Enix will need to optimize the crossover space it has left inKingdom Hearts' numbered titles, and the first Disney worlds on the chopping block are likely those hailing from older films with one majorKHappearance, which includes:
Game Central Station arguably didn’t get a major appearance since it was relegated to a mobileKingdom Hearts Union Crossstoryline, butWreck-it Ralphmight not have had aKingdom Heartsworldotherwise.Mulanis also still relevant thanks to the 2020 live-action reboot, but its mixed reception leaves its world prospects unlikely. That concludes the lowest priority worlds forKingdom Hearts 4, but even the best can’t all make it.
Some Disney Worlds Could Still Host A Kingdom Hearts 4 Visit
Just because properties likeAladdin,Pinocchio,The Little Mermaid,The Nightmare Before Christmas,Peter Pan, andTronhave featured in multiple majorKingdom Heartsentries doesn’t mean they’re guaranteed another chance.Adding new Disney worlds toKingdom Heartswill probably be the priority from now on, and that means only a fraction of the old worlds may appear again. Of those old worlds, Disney Castle andFantasia’s The Mysterious Tower have the highest chance given their past prominence, but they could easily be relegated to cutscenes, and their one-off counterparts, Timeless River and Symphony of Sorcery, aren’t likely to reappear.
Kingdom Hearts 4’s Most Likely Returning Worlds
In the limited timeKingdom Hearts’ story has left, at least one more appearance for the series’ traditionalHerculesand theWinnie the Poohworlds feels most likely. After that,Toy StoryandPirates of the Caribbeanboth have enough remaining movies in different time periods to support more crossovers, and aFrozen 2world could surprise players as asignificant improvement overKingdom Hearts 3’s controversial Arendelle. It’s only the slightest fraction of what’s come before, butKingdom Hearts 4needs to be that lean to keep a steady pace going towards its story’s conclusion.
Kingdom Hearts 4
Kingdom Hearts 4 is an action RPG developed by Square Enix and represents the fifteenth installment in the franchise. Players once again are put in the shoes of Sora who is suddenly trapped in a more realistic world called Quadratum, with companions like Donald and Goofy attempting to rescue him. Kingdom Hearts 4 is a direct sequel to Kingdom Hearts 3 and Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory.
