Aisaka Taiga
- The long-awaited sequel is targeting late 2027, with a new Coco world adding even more excitement
- That might sound like a small detail, but for collectors, it matters.
The long-awaited sequel is targeting late 2027, with a new Coco world adding even more excitement
Kingdom Hearts fans have spent years wondering the same thing: when is Kingdom Hearts IV actually coming out? After a very long period of silence, there are finally signs that the wait is getting closer to an end. According to the sources, Kingdom Hearts IV is now targeting a late 2027 release, and the latest footage suggests Square Enix is finally ready to start turning up the hype.
The newest D23 presentation gave fans another look at the upcoming adventure and, perhaps most importantly, introduced a new world based on Pixar's Coco. The colorful setting looks like a natural fit for Kingdom Hearts, with the game's visual style giving the world plenty of personality. It is the kind of reveal that immediately gets people wondering what other Disney and Pixar worlds could appear in the finished game.
The release timing is also pretty interesting. If Kingdom Hearts IV arrives toward the end of 2027, the PlayStation 5 version should still make it onto physical discs before Sony's reported plans to scale back physical game production take effect in early 2028. For players who still like having an actual game case on the shelf, that could be good news.
There is another physical-release question surrounding the Nintendo Switch 2 version, though. Kingdom Hearts IV has already been shown running on Nintendo's newer console, and the footage looked surprisingly good. The uncertainty is whether the game will receive a proper physical cartridge or use a game-key card.
That might sound like a small detail, but for collectors, it matters.
A massive game like Kingdom Hearts IV could easily end up requiring additional downloads if it uses a key card. Would fans really get a full physical version? At this point, there is no clear answer. While the game itself has been quiet for years, the Kingdom Hearts brand certainly has not disappeared.
According to the sources, Disney and Square Enix now value Kingdom Hearts as a billion-dollar franchise. That figure goes beyond game sales and includes merchandise, collaborations, pop-up stores, themed cafes and other parts of the franchise's enormous business.
It makes sense when looking at how much the series has grown. What started as an unusual crossover between Disney characters, Final Fantasy elements and original characters has become one of gaming's most recognizable franchises. The biggest change right now is the amount of information finally coming out.
For years, Kingdom Hearts IV fans were mostly surviving on old trailers, theories and endless speculation. That situation appears to be changing. A trailer shown during the Nintendo Direct in June already gave fans a major surprise, particularly with the Switch 2 version. Now the D23 footage has added the Coco world to the conversation.
If Square Enix keeps this pace going, another trailer could arrive before the end of 2026, followed by more gameplay details and previews as the 2027 launch approaches. After waiting this long, Kingdom Hearts IV is finally starting to feel real. But with 2027 still a long way off, the major issue is: will the wait be worth it?
