Disney, Square Enix preview 'Kingdom Hearts 4' at fan convention

Fans of the high-selling "Kingdom Hearts" franchise gathered at a Disney convention in Anaheim, California, where Walt Disney and Japanese developer Square Enix offered a glimpse of the upcoming "Kingdom Hearts 4." The preview coincided with celebrations for the beloved action role-playing series' 25th anniversary. "Kingdom Hearts" has proven to be a major success for Disney, with its games collectively grossing over $1 billion at retail.

The highly anticipated "Kingdom Hearts 4" follows protagonist Sora after the events of the previous game, finding him in Quadratum, a stylized version of Tokyo's Shibuya district. A new four-minute trailer showcased a world inspired by Pixar's "Coco," expanding on previously released footage. The trailer also reunited fans with iconic characters like Donald Duck, Goofy, King Mickey, and Hades, alongside original "Kingdom Hearts" characters and hints of other diverse worlds.

Franchise creator Tetsuya Nomura, a surprise guest at the panel, expressed his aim to integrate Disney properties that offer strong gameplay synergies. He specifically highlighted "Coco" as an ideal choice for its potential to create compelling gameplay. Additionally, the panel revealed a new Paper Mickey Mouse world, where Mickey Mouse will be a playable character within a storybook environment, offering a distinct departure from the series' traditional adventure format. Players will navigate this world through mechanics like traveling through wall cracks, transforming into an airplane, and solving puzzles. The return of "Sleeping Beauty" villain Maleficent was also teased for "Kingdom Hearts 4."

First released in 2002 for the PlayStation 2, the "Kingdom Hearts" series marked a significant collaboration between Square Enix and The Walt Disney Company. Further expanding its reach, an original anime series based on the franchise was announced for Disney Channel and Disney+. While no release date or title has been confirmed, Nomura indicated his deep involvement in the anime's development.

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We felt that 'Coco' would be the best world that would really help to achieve that.