Kingdom Hearts 4 Reaffirmed for Late 2027 Launch

At the D23 2026 fan expo this weekend, Disney and Square Enix confirmed that the highly anticipated action role-playing game Kingdom Hearts 4 is on track for a late 2027 launch, with the game's director firmly stating the schedule will not slip. The announcement came during a dedicated "Deep Dive" panel, where series creator Tetsuya Nomura and codirector Tai Yasue addressed potential fan concerns directly.

The presentation included new gameplay footage and extended looks at worlds inspired by Disney and Pixar properties. Among the confirmed settings is the Land of the Dead from the film Coco, alongside a return to the Underworld from Hercules. Unique stages featuring Mickey Mouse were also shown, with developers noting that for the first time in the series, Donald Duck and Goofy will be playable characters. A longer, four-minute version of the trailer debuted following a shorter clip at the main Entertainment Showcase, revealing additional gameplay details and world designs.

Central to the panel was the developers' unequivocal assurance regarding the release window. Nomura directly addressed online speculation that the date might change. "We announced that the game is going to...