Kingdom Hearts 4 Still on Track for 2027 Release

The long-awaited sequel is moving ahead smoothly as Kingdom Hearts closes in on 40 million sales.

Kingdom Hearts 4 has been around for so long that fans have almost gotten used to wondering whether it will actually arrive when promised. But there is finally some good news for anyone who has been patiently waiting for Sora's next adventure: the game is still on track for 2027.

According to the sources, Tetsuya Nomura has pushed back against recent speculation that Kingdom Hearts 4 could be delayed beyond 2027. After seeing people online suggesting that the game might slip into 2028, Nomura reportedly clarified that this isn't the plan. Even better, development is moving faster than expected.

Nomura said the mastered version of the game is progressing much faster than he anticipated, suggesting the project is in a healthier state than some fans may have assumed. That's a big deal considering how quiet Square Enix has been about Kingdom Hearts 4. The game was first revealed in 2022, and the long stretches without major updates have naturally left fans wondering what was happening behind the scenes. Could 2027 finally be the year Sora returns?

At least for now, that's exactly what Square Enix appears to be aiming for.

And keeping that release window could be especially important for fans who still want a physical copy. The physical game situation has become increasingly complicated across the industry. Square Enix has leaned heavily toward digital releases and game-key cards on Nintendo Switch 2, while physical games are becoming less common across major platforms.

That has some Kingdom Hearts fans worried about what kind of physical release Kingdom Hearts 4 will receive. PlayStation 5 is likely to be one of the most important platforms for the game, particularly because Kingdom Hearts has historically had a strong connection with PlayStation. A physical PS5 release would certainly make sense for longtime fans and collectors.

Whether the Switch 2 version receives a traditional cartridge is another question entirely. Square Enix also has plenty of reason to be excited about the franchise's current momentum. According to Square Enix, the Kingdom Hearts series has now sold more than 39 million copies worldwide since the original game launched on PlayStation 2 in 2002. That puts the franchise just a step away from the 40-million mark.

Not bad for a series that started with what sounded like one of gaming's strangest combinations: Disney characters, Final Fantasy-style storytelling and an original character named Sora. Somehow, it all worked. Over the years, Kingdom Hearts expanded from the PS2 to the Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS, 3DS, Xbox, PC and modern PlayStation consoles.

Upcoming collections and renewed attention around Kingdom Hearts 4 could push the franchise past 40 million sales before the sequel even launches. And when Kingdom Hearts 4 finally arrives, the potential audience could be enormous. PlayStation 5 has a huge player base, PC has become an important part of Square Enix's strategy, and Nintendo Switch 2 is rapidly building its own audience.

If Kingdom Hearts 4 delivers the experience fans have been waiting years for, selling 10 million copies or more doesn't sound completely out of reach. For now, though, the biggest victory is simply keeping the game on schedule. After years of waiting, fans finally have something solid to hold onto: Kingdom Hearts 4 is still aiming for 2027. Could this finally be the year Sora's next chapter becomes a reality?