After three years of near silence, Kingdom Hearts fans have received a small but meaningful update about the highly anticipated fourth installment in the beloved Disney-meets-Final-Fantasy series.
During a recent Final Fantasy VII: Ever Crisis 2nd anniversary livestream, director Tetsuya Nomura shared that Kingdom Hearts 4 is “steadily moving forward according to schedule.” While brief, this confirmation marks the first official development update since Square Enix released a batch of new screenshots in May 2025.
“We are making great strides and going according to schedule. So please wait for more information,” Nomura stated during the broadcast. The comments were translated by fan translator Audrey (@aitaikimochi), who shared the audio with English subtitles online.
Kingdom Hearts 4 was first revealed in April 2022 during a livestream celebrating the franchise’s 20th anniversary. The initial announcement trailer showed protagonist Sora in Quadratum, a realistic-looking cityscape that marks a significant visual departure from previous games. The game is being developed in Unreal Engine 5, allowing for more photorealistic graphics compared to earlier entries.
Nomura didn’t provide any specific details about when fans can expect more substantial news, a release window, or which platforms the game will launch on. The May 2025 screenshot release came with a message from Square Enix thanking fans for their excitement and asking for patience: “We are equally excited and can’t wait to share more about Kingdom Hearts IV when the time is right.”
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The update on Kingdom Hearts 4 wasn’t the only good news Nomura shared during the stream. He also confirmed that Final Fantasy VII Remake Part 3, the final chapter in the remake trilogy, is “progressing really smoothly” and that its “release timing has already been decided” internally.
“We’re moving forward according to that schedule right now, so please rest assured and be patient,” Nomura explained about FF7 Remake Part 3. Development on the title reportedly began as early as June 2022, with Square Enix previously stating its goal to launch the game by 2027.
The timing of these updates has sparked speculation about when more concrete information might be revealed. The Tokyo Game Show takes place later this month, and Sony often holds a State of Play presentation in September, sometimes coinciding with the Tokyo Game Show. Additionally, The Game Awards in December has become a popular venue for major game announcements.
The Kingdom Hearts series has a dedicated fanbase that has weathered long development cycles before. Kingdom Hearts 3 was announced in 2013 but didn’t release until 2019, leaving fans waiting six years between announcement and launch.
For now, Kingdom Hearts enthusiasts will need to hold onto Nomura’s assurance that development is on track. The May 2025 screenshots and this recent confirmation that the game is progressing as planned are positive signs in an industry where delays have become increasingly common.
As Square Enix continues development on both Kingdom Hearts 4 and Final Fantasy VII Remake Part 3, fans can take comfort in knowing that these highly anticipated titles are moving forward, even if specific details remain under wraps for now.