Although Summer Game Fest has now concluded, a surprise Nintendo Direct yesterday left us with a trailer we had been waiting four years for – that of Kingdom Hearts 4.
Yes, that's right – we actually saw more of Kingdom Hearts 4 during the showcase, although we didn't get any sort of release date from Square Enix. It was a teaser, showing off the game's stunning visuals and a little bit of combat, too… but that doesn't mean folks weren't just a tad bit disappointed.
Heck, Kingdom Hearts 4 was announced in 2022. So, when is it going to launch, then? Well, some fans think they know.
That's because two separate store listings from Australia – one on EB Games and another on JB Hi-Fi – mention "the release of Kingdom Hearts 4 in 2027." At least, they did – both listings have now had this part scrubbed out, so make of that what you will.
Although the listings aren't even for the fourth game itself (they're for a collection containing the series' first three titles), that's a pretty big deal… and eagle-eyed fans are, of course, treating it as such. It's almost like the GTA 6 debacles all over again, where random listings convinced folks of all sorts of things.
Kingdom Hearts IV possibly getting a release in 2027 from r/GamingLeaksAndRumours
A Reddit thread highlights some of this, erm, hopium, with the top comment reading, "2027 shaping to be a good year for me." Another chimes in that it's an "already stacked" year, while somebody exclaims, "Next year looks absolutely insane."
One person jokes, "Peak 2027 incoming" – but they're not exactly wrong. Even if Kingdom Hearts 4 doesn't come, there's everything from a Resident Evil: Code Veronica remake to the new Fable entry.
As is always the case with such speculation, not everyone is certain that the Kingdom Hearts 4 mentions mean anything. One fan argues, "That footage we saw on the direct looked janky af, surely 2027 is a stretch." Another adds, "I don't believe that for a second because it sounds too good to be true."
I suppose I understand where they're coming from… we don't really know much about the fourth game at this point, so a release date seems out of reach.
It took a whopping four years to even get a new trailer out of Square Enix, so, yeah. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a 2027 Kingdom Hearts 4 release, but not holding my breath.
Searching for something else to wishlist? Here are the best new games coming this year and beyond to look forward to.
