In a disappointing turn of events for fans, Square Enix has officially announced the cancellation of Kingdom Hearts Missing-Link, the highly anticipated GPS-based action-RPG for mobile devices. The game, which was set to explore the realm of Scala ad Caelum with a fresh, original storyline centered around the ongoing battle against the Heartless, was originally scheduled for release in 2024.
The cancellation was communicated through an unsigned statement on the game's X/Twitter account. Square Enix expressed deep regret, stating, "We wish to convey our heartfelt apologies to everyone who has been looking forward to the start of service. 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."
While the statement did not delve into the specific challenges that led to this decision, it did acknowledge the efforts and support of those who participated in the multiple closed beta tests. "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," the statement concluded.
Despite the setback with Kingdom Hearts Missing-Link, there's a silver lining for fans of the series. Square Enix reassured the community that the "Kingdom Hearts series will continue," and provided an exciting update on the development of Kingdom Hearts 4. "We are hard at work on Kingdom Hearts 4, and hope you'll continue to support the series as you keep an eye out for further updates," the company stated, marking the first official mention of the eagerly awaited sequel in months.
The last update on Kingdom Hearts 4 was a tiny, cryptic tease back in January, following its reveal in September 2022 with a full cinematic trailer. Since then, Square Enix has remained relatively silent, leaving fans eagerly awaiting more information. Series director Tetsuya Nomura has hinted that Kingdom Hearts 4 will mark a significant shift in the series' narrative, aiming to guide the saga toward its conclusion after 22 years and 18 games.
