Kingdom Hearts 4 Gets Major Update—New Coco World and 2027 Release Date

Square Enix confirms Kingdom Hearts 4 remains on track for late 2027 while revealing major new details about Sora’s adventure.

Kingdom Hearts 4 is now back in a big way, offering its eager fanbase lots of new details on the highly anticipated sequel. The game’s return during a Nintendo Direct was a surprise to fans, but its D23 participation wasn’t nearly as shocking, as a special Kingdom Hearts panel was already on the schedule.

Square Enix and Disney used the event to drop a massive update, including an extended teaser that gives a closer look at one of the new worlds in the game. The latest video continues the Coco universe in Kingdom Hearts 4. Coco may not be a brand everyone has been tying to their universe since its 2017 debut, but its visual style does seem to mix in pretty nicely with the Kingdom Hearts realm. 

The world’s focus on death and the afterlife has led fans to compare it to the underworld and Hades of previous Kingdom Hearts games. The setting of the series could be particularly interesting because of that thematic link. In the clip Donald and Goofy are playable party members alongside Sora.

However, the accompanying documentation from Square Enix indicates Mickey Mouse will be playable in the future adventure. The story will return to Sora and well-known friends as they explore the odd city of Quadratum, where Heartless are causing chaos. Sora will also keep wandering in worlds inspired by Disney and Pixar properties.

In the formula that has made the brand what it is throughout its life, he’ll encounter new people and discover new powers throughout the journey. Coco's video and confirmation of other playable characters have made Kingdom Hearts 4 seem a lot more substantial than it seemed in earlier appearances.

Kingdom Hearts 4 is coming in late 2027, despite fan fears.

Also at D23 came the release date for Kingdom Hearts 4, which is arguably the most important news of the day. Square Enix currently aims for a late 2027 release window. It might sound like yet another distant goal that will gradually drift into 2028, but the devs supposedly mentioned the date numerous times during the presentation.

The latest reports estimate the game to be between 90% and 100% complete, with the remainder of the work being primarily polish and other logistical preparations. This conveys far more confidence in the late 2027 target than a simple mention of an estimated release date would. Delays can always happen, but Square Enix will deliver Kingdom Hearts 4 before the end of 2027.

The timing means that 2027 could be a big year for Square Enix. During that same time frame, the company is expected to release the final installment in its last Fantasy VII trilogy. If 2027 proves to be a huge year for the publisher with two big releases positioned as flagship games and both franchises moving to a wider multiplatform strategy, they could find themselves with a solid financial year.

There is also the broader commercial consideration that the releases could be spread over a number of fiscal years. Nevertheless, Kingdom Hearts 4 and the next Final Fantasy VII entry are important cornerstones for Square Enix, and both can do well. Clearly, the corporation is recovering from some of the problems it experienced several years ago.

Kingdom Hearts is growing beyond games with an original Disney anime.

The Kingdom Hearts 4 announcement also came with a big surprise: an original Kingdom Hearts anime series is in development for Disney Channel and Disney+. The project is being developed with the creative team of Tetsuya Nomura and Square Enix. Original anime may be a more approachable starting point for individuals who haven't played the games.

The Kingdom Hearts saga has gotten notoriously difficult over time, requiring beginners to negotiate several games, characters, timelines, and backstory. A new animated series may teach viewers about the full franchise history instead of making them study it.

It’s also coming to Disney Channel and Disney+, which to me shows how Disney and Square Enix seem to view Kingdom Hearts as something more than a video game series. The brand already mixes Disney and Pixar IP with Square Enix characters and unique storytelling, so it’s ripe for progression into other sorts of entertainment.

But long-time fans might suggest even more lore to follow for the anime. Kingdom Hearts has always had a complicated mythology, and adding another major story thread to the franchise’s growing universe might make things even more muddled. If you've been champing at the bit ever since Kingdom Hearts 4 was revealed, today's presentation should be a nice consolation to you.

Kingdom Hearts fans have finally got a release date after years of waiting.

The game now sports a concrete release date in late 2027, a more thorough exploration of the Coco universe, confirmed playable characters, and further details regarding the franchise as a whole. If the release date holds, fans could have to wait roughly a year and a few months for Kingdom Hearts 4 to launch before January 2028.

A physical edition is also expected, though the exact physical release schedule across platforms is uncertain. Most likely the most basic physical version will be for the PS5. The Switch 2 version may require a game key card. The PC version will most likely be digital. Regardless of the format, Kingdom Hearts 4 looks to be near completion.

After years of waiting and little information, the new teaser and announcements imply Square Enix is preparing for a much larger Kingdom Hearts presence. With the game slated for late 2027 and an anime series in the works, the brand could be entering its most ambitious new chapter ever.