Square Enix has officially announced the cancellation of Kingdom Hearts: Missing-Link, a decision that has stirred both shock and a sense of déjà vu among fans. This isn't the first time Square Enix has cancelled a project, so the news, while disappointing, didn't come as a complete surprise to many.
The development team had been hard at work on Kingdom Hearts: Missing-Link since 2019, conducting multiple closed beta tests on both Android and iOS. Just last November, they announced a delay via X, leaving participants of the closed beta tests somewhat surprised, given how far along the project seemed to be.
Why Did Kingdom Hearts: Missing-Link Get Cancelled?
The team cited their inability to find a viable path forward that would meet long-term player expectations as the reason for cancellation. The game was envisioned as a live-service experience, but it seems they couldn't deliver it to the standard they aimed for.
Kingdom Hearts: Missing-Link was designed to be an innovative, GPS-based spinoff, allowing players to explore the world and engage in battles against Heartless using their keyblades. Set in a forgotten chapter of the Kingdom Hearts saga, the game had sparked curiosity, especially about its GPS features.
Despite the global popularity of the Kingdom Hearts franchise, the concept apparently didn't translate well into a practical, enjoyable experience. Instead of releasing a subpar product, Square Enix decided to cancel the project and redirect their efforts.
If you're curious about what Kingdom Hearts: Missing-Link was supposed to be, you can watch the teaser trailer here:
But Kingdom Hearts IV Is Still Coming!
With Kingdom Hearts: Missing-Link out of the picture, Square Enix is now fully focused on Kingdom Hearts IV. After a period of silence, they provided a small update on the game, which was first revealed at the Kingdom Hearts 20th Anniversary event in 2022.
Development on Kingdom Hearts IV is progressing, offering some solace to fans disappointed by the cancellation of Missing-Link. The main series continues to thrive, keeping the spirit of Kingdom Hearts alive.
That concludes our coverage on the cancellation of Kingdom Hearts: Missing-Link. Stay tuned for more updates, including our next news piece on Plug In Digital's digital version of the popular board game Abalone.
