The planned live-service title Kingdom Hearts Missing-Link has been officially canceled by Square Enix. The game, which was originally planned for a 2024 release, would have been a live-service mobile game that utilized GPS. The result would have been a mix of the Kingdom Hearts storytelling and lore and Pokémon GO-style physical gameplay.

Unfortunately, KH fans will never get a chance to experience the title. According to a statement on the official Kingdom Hearts website, Square Enix has "made the decision to cancel the development of Kingdom Hearts Missing-Link." After working to develop the title, the studio has "determined that it would be difficult for us to offer a service that players would find satisfactory over a long period of time." The studio also assures fans that it's still "hard at work on Kingdom Hearts 4."

What Was Kingdom Hearts: Missing Link?

Kingdom Hearts Storytelling Meets Pokémon GO Gameplay

Kingdom Hearts Missing-Link was originally announced during the 20th Anniversary KH event in 2022. The game was going to be a mobile title for Android and iOS devices, helmed by series creator Tetsuya Nomura. It would have explored the story of Scala ad Caelum following the events of Union X, exploring the unknown era through the POV of new characters. The mobile title was going to use GPS and AR features, requiring players to get up and go outside to engage with it.

The game was plagued with delays and setbacks from the beginning. A closed beta was planned for late 2022, then delayed to 2023 and then 2024. When the 2024 launch window came and went, it became apparent that more work was needed before the game could be released. The title has now officially been completely canceled, with only about 1,500 UK- and Australia-based players having had the chance to play it during a very small iOS testing phase in 2023.

Kingdom Hearts Missing-Link Cancellation Means Square Enix Can Focus On HK4

The Developer Assures Fans The Fourth Game Is Coming

The news that Kingdom Hearts Missing-Link has been delayed is bittersweet. The gaming community is always a bit on the fence about mobile entries to popular franchises in general, but Missing-Link had a promising premise. Its cancellation means that fans will never be able to experience a Pokémon GO-style version of their beloved franchise, but it also means that Square Enix can focus its game developing efforts elsewhere.

In the statement, the company assured fans that it's currently hard at work developing the highly anticipated Kingdom Hearts 4 (which will actually be the 15th game in the series). Stopping production on Kingdom Hearts Missing-Link means that Square Enix can now put all its development efforts into creating the next game in the series, where fans will get a chance to revisit beloved characters with a brand-new take on the story.

Source: Kingdom Hearts