Square Enix has officially announced the cancellation of Kingdom Hearts Missing-Link, the eagerly awaited GPS-based action-RPG for mobile devices. Set to explore the realm of Scala ad Caelum with a fresh, original story in the ongoing battle against the Heartless, the game was initially scheduled for a 2024 release. However, in a recent statement shared on the game's X/Twitter account, Square Enix expressed their "heartfelt apologies to everyone who have been looking forward" to the game, citing challenges in ensuring long-term player satisfaction as the reason for the cancellation.
The statement elaborated, "Although we worked hard on developing and adjusting the game in the hope that it would be enjoyed by lots of players, we determined that it would be difficult for us to offer a service that players would find satisfactory over a long period of time, leading us to the decision to cancel development." Square Enix also extended their gratitude to those who participated in the multiple closed beta tests and reiterated their regret over the cancellation.
Despite this setback, fans of the Kingdom Hearts series have reason to remain hopeful. Square Enix reassured the community that the "Kingdom Hearts series will continue," and provided an exciting update on Kingdom Hearts 4. The developer confirmed they are "hard at work" on the sequel, encouraging fans to stay tuned for further updates.
This update on Kingdom Hearts 4 marks the first official mention of the much-anticipated game in months, following a tiny, cryptic tease back in January. Despite being unveiled in September 2022 with a full cinematic trailer, Square Enix has maintained a low profile since then, keeping with the series' tradition of leaving fans eagerly awaiting more information.
Notably, Kingdom Hearts series director Tetsuya Nomura has hinted that Kingdom Hearts 4 will mark a significant shift in the narrative, steering the storyline towards its conclusion after 22 years and a total of 18 games in the series.
