Square Enix Cancels Mobile Title to Focus on Final Fantasy VII Rebirth & Kingdom Hearts IV

Kingdom Hearts Missing-Link, the GPS-based action RPG for mobile, has been canceled. However, it's not all bad news for fans, as Square Enix confirmed the team is still diligently working on Kingdom Hearts 4.

Missing-Link was set to take players to Scala ad Caelum with a new, original story, focusing on the grand battle against the Heartless on mobile devices. It was originally scheduled for a 2024 release.

In an unsigned statement posted to the game's X/Twitter account, Square Enix extended its "heartfelt apologies to everyone who has been looking forward to the title." The project was canceled because the company determined it would be "difficult to provide a service that players would find satisfying over the long term." The statement did not specify the exact challenges faced.

"We sincerely apologize to everyone who has been anticipating the start of service," the statement read. "Despite our dedicated efforts in development and adjustments to create an enjoyable experience for many players, we concluded that delivering a service capable of maintaining player satisfaction over an extended period would be challenging, leading to the decision to cancel development.

"We would like to thank everyone who supported and assisted with the multiple closed beta tests. We are truly sorry to deliver this news."

Near the statement's conclusion, Square Enix reassured fans that the "Kingdom Hearts series will continue." It added, "We are hard at work on Kingdom Hearts 4 and hope you will continue to support the series while watching for future updates."

This marks the first official mention of the highly anticipated sequel in months. The last update was a small, cryptic tease for Kingdom Hearts 4 back in January. Despite its grand reveal with a full cinematic trailer in September 2022, developer Square Enix has remained notably quiet since, in keeping with series tradition, leaving fans eagerly awaiting more information.

Series director Tetsuya Nomura has hinted that Kingdom Hearts 4 will, after 22 years and numerous titles, finally begin steering the overarching Kingdom Hearts narrative toward its conclusion.