Kingdom Hearts: Missing-Link, a mobile action RPG announced in 2022, has been cancelled. Originally planned to be released last year, it faced several delays. Square Enix said recently on Twitter that it “worked hard on developing and adjusting the game in the hope that it would be enjoyed by lots of players.” However, it eventually realized, “It would be difficult for us to offer a service that players would find satisfactory over a long period, leading us to the decision to cancel development.” The development team is “hard at work” on the next installment in the series, Kingdom Hearts 4. Announced in April 2022 along with Missing-Link, the sequel is developed on Unreal Engine 5. Further information like platforms, a release window, and so on remain unconfirmed. Though the cancellation of Kingdom Hearts: Missing-Link may be surprising, Square Enix has a reputation for launching mobile titles and shutting down support soon after. These include Echoes of Mana, Bravely Default: Brilliant Lights, and Final Fantasy 7: The First Soldier. As for the future of its business, Square Enix recently announced a three-year reboot plan focusing on a new R&D division for AI-focused development tools. It also reemphasized its multiplatform approach and will continue cancelling projects that aren’t progressing at the desired rate. Head here for more details. An important announcement regarding KINGDOM HEARTS Missing-Link. pic.twitter.com/pXL2ULBV8k— Official KINGDOM HEARTS Missing-Link (@KHMLink_NA) May 14, 2025

Kingdom Hearts Missing-Link cancelled, but Kingdom Hearts 4 still on the way Dream dropped. Image credit: Square Enix News by Ed Nightingale Deputy News Editor Published on May 14, 2025 Square Enix has cancelled development of mobile game Kingdom Hearts Missing-Link. In a statement on social media, the company stated it would be "difficult for us to offer a service that players would find satisfactory over a long period of time". However, it confirmed that Kingdom Hearts 4 - the long-awaited next mainline entry in the series - is still in development. Missing-Link would have been a GPS-based action-RPG similar to Pokémon Go but with Disney characters and combat against Heartless similar to the mainline console games. Gameplay was shown at the series' 20th anniversary celebration. Kingdom Hearts 20th anniversary announcement trailerWatch on YouTube "We wish to convey our heartfelt apologies to everyone who has been looking forward to the start of service," the statement reads. "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." The company thanked those who took part in multiple closed beta tests, before concluding: "The Kingdom Hearts series will continue. We are hard at work on Kingdom Hearts 4, and hope you'll continue to support the series as you keep an eye out for further updates." To see this content please enable targeting cookies. The series has received multiple spin-offs outside of its three main entries across mobile and handheld consoles, with each extending the overarching plot a little further. However, it's been six years since the release of Kingdom Hearts 3 on PS4 and Xbox One, the most recent series entry. Square Enix officially announced Kingdom Hearts 4 back in 2022 for the series' 20th anniversary celebration, but little has been heard about it since. Last year, series director Tetsuya Nomura stated the fourth game will be a reset of the story but will lead towards a series conclusion as he looks to retire. Kingdom Hearts Missing-Link is the latest mobile game to be cancelled by Square Enix. Back in February this year, the iOS version of Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles was shut down due to an ongoing bug. This followed the likes of Final Fantasy: Brave Exvius, Dissidia Final Fantasy Opera Omnia, and Final Fantasy 7 battle royale The First Soldier, which were all shut down due to declining player numbers.

Kingdom Hearts Missing-Link, the GPS-based action-RPG for mobile, has been cancelled — but it's not all bad news for Kingdom Hearts fans, as Square Enix confirmed it is still "hard at work" on Kingdom Hearts 4.Kingdom Hearts Missing-Link would have taken us to the realm of Scala ad Caelum in a new, original story in the grand battle against the Heartless on mobile devices, and had been originally slated to release in 2024.However, in an unsigned statement posted to the game's X/Twitter account, Square Enix wished to "convey [its] heartfelt apologies to everyone who have been looking forward" to it, but cancelled the project because it was "determined that it would be difficult [...] to offer a service that players would find satisfactory over a long period of time." The statement did not elaborate on what, exactly, was proving difficult.Play"We wish to convey our heartfelt apologies to everyone who has been looking forward to the start of service," the statement said. "Although we worked hard on developing and adjusting the game in the hope that it would 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."We would like to take this opportunity to express our thanks to everyone who gave us their support and assistance with the multiple closed beta tests. We are truly sorry to have to make this announcement."Right at the end of the statement, however, Square Enix assured fans the "Kingdom Hearts series will continue," and hinted "we are hard at work on Kingdom Hearts 4, and hope you'll continue to support the series as you keep an eye out for further updates."PlayThis is the first official mention of the highly-anticipated sequel fans have had in months, the last being a tiny, cryptic tease for Kingdom Hearts 4 back in January. Despite being revealed in September 2022 with a full cinematic trailer, developer Square Enix has since gone incredibly quiet since and, in series tradition, left fans pining for more. Kingdom Hearts series director Tetsuya Nomura has however hinted that Kingdom Hearts 4 will, after 22 years and a whopping 18 games, finally shift the Kingdom Hearts narrative towards its conclusion.Vikki Blake is a reporter, critic, columnist, and consultant. She's also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her at BlueSky.

Square Enix announced that it has canceled Kingdom Hearts Missing-Link, a GPS-based action role-playing game (ARPG) for mobile devices.Read More

Chaserjoey Keeper of the White Materia Member Oct 27, 2017 9,857 We have made the decision to cancel the development of KINGDOM HEARTS Missing-Link. We wish to convey our heartfelt apologies to everyone who has been looking forward to the start of service. Although we worked hard on development 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, We would like to take this opportunity to express our thanks to everyone who gave us their support and assistance with the multiple closed beta tests. We are truly sorry to have to make this announcement. The KINGDOM HEARTS series will continue. We are hard at work on KINGDOM HEARTS IV, and hope you'll continue to support the series as you keep an eye out for further updates. Click to expand... Click to shrink...   Fat4all Woke up, got a money tag, swears a lot Member Oct 25, 2017 107,495 here true to its name   LostSkullKid Member Nov 27, 2017 5,142 Holy shit. So is whatever they were gonna do with the story there just completely scrapped?   Euler Member Oct 27, 2017 5,797 Watch the story of this game still be necessary to understand KH5   MrTharne Member May 26, 2023 675 How will I be able to understand the story now ? Hope we can see some of KH4 at SGF.  Izanagi89 "This guy are sick" and Corrupted by Vengeance Member Oct 27, 2017 18,762 At least we got a KH4 mention 🤷‍♂️   Geode Keeper of the White Materia Member Oct 27, 2017 5,469 It's for the best. Hopefully they utilize the story in 4 or make a Switch 2 side game with whatever they developed so far.   OP OP Chaserjoey Keeper of the White Materia Member Oct 27, 2017 9,857 Euler said: Watch the story of this game still be necessary to understand KH5 Click to expand... Click to shrink... It was literally meant to set up characters and lore for Kingdom Hearts 4 💀😭   TheMerv Member Jan 1, 2022 2,097 It's a shame it didn't get retooled to something resembling the ds/psp/3ds era side games. The weird victorian England-ish setting had potential.  AlexFlame116 Prophet of Truth - One Winged Slayer Member Nov 17, 2017 24,163 Utah At the end it really did become Missing. Watch as the cutscenes become available as part of a super mega one disc collection of Kingdom Hearts 1-3 and all spin offs.  GooZ One Winged Slayer Member Oct 25, 2017 2,186 I'm glad they're pulling the closure already because lets be honest the fate of server closure would've happened within 3 years tops. Tis the fate of Square Enix mobile games..  HolyJonte AVALANCHE Member Aug 31, 2023 1,279 From Stockholm but now living in Padova, Italy I have only played KH1 and 2. Is the mobile and side games normally important for the story, overall. Or are they just adding some small things here and there?   Dal Uncle Works at Nintendo Member Aug 18, 2024 2,159 Square Enix's mobile ventures always felt wasteful to me, there is no world in which big directors like Nomura and Yoko Taro should have been wasting YEARS on these games rather than developing actual, mainline console games (in the case of Nomura, he actually did, so.....)   SmokedSalmon Member Apr 1, 2019 2,723 Sad to see. I played one of the betas and did not care for it, but I was interested in the story. I hope they can use that story for another project.   Linus815 Member Oct 29, 2017 23,952 this is for the best in my opinion   frankabus One Winged Slayer Member Oct 27, 2017 311 Unfortunate as I'm sure a lot of resources have been utilized that will no longer go to fruition, but as someone whose weak point is Kingdom Hearts, part of me is glad I don't have to add another mobile gacha to my plate. I wish SE would go back to releasing full-fledged side games.   texhnolyze Shinra Employee Member Oct 25, 2017 26,289 Indonesia Square Enix and mobile flop, name a more iconic duo.   LAA One Winged Slayer Member Oct 28, 2017 3,202 Oh wow. Pretty crazy as the beta seemed pretty solid, I found the grind concerning though and whether they'd "solve" it with MTs, to cancel altogether seems a big move though, my Conspiracy theory was another Disney Pokemon Go-ish like game released last year around the time ML was supposed to and wonder if Disney wanted ML pushed back because of that, but reasoning here seems to be concerns around making long term content. I don't really follow what Pokemon Go does, but I thought that was still one of the most successful games? Wonder if they'll move what was developed from ML into KH4 or another side game instead. May be for the best if its a complete game instead. I'm just sad with the KH silence in general lately ha. Need MoM on steam as something ha. Nice KH4 has at least been acknowledged, been a while for that too.  Mattmo831 Featuring Mattmo831 from the Apple v Epic case Member Oct 26, 2020 6,518 LostSkullKid said: Holy shit. So is whatever they were gonna do with the story there just completely scrapped? Click to expand... Click to shrink... They will pretend it exists in kingdom hearts 4 and just not explain any of it   Atom Member Jul 25, 2021 15,248 HolyJonte said: I have only played KH1 and 2. Is the mobile and side games normally important for the story, overall. Or are they just adding some small things here and there? Click to expand... Click to shrink... Side games yes. Tons of important events related to the main characters in 2 and 3 are covered in Chain, Days, Birth, Dream. Coded is probs the only one that comes close to skippable. Mobile games not that much so far, and the story they are important for is probably story you won't care about, but potentially a much bigger deal for 4.  OP OP Chaserjoey Keeper of the White Materia Member Oct 27, 2017 9,857 HolyJonte said: I have only played KH1 and 2. Is the mobile and side games normally important for the story, overall. Or are they just adding some small things here and there? Click to expand... Click to shrink... The "side games" (Chain of Memories, 358/2 Days, Birth by Sleep, coded, Dream Drop Distance, 0.2) are all important. Think of it like the individual films inbetween Avengers films. The mobile game Union X is heavily important since characters from that are now the villains in Kingdom Hearts 4, and Missing-Link was introducing a whole lot for the new saga to work off of.  hydrophilic attack went to hypogean jail Member Oct 25, 2017 23,540 Sweden HolyJonte said: I have only played KH1 and 2. Is the mobile and side games normally important for the story, overall. Or are they just adding some small things here and there? Click to expand... Click to shrink... chain of memories, 358/2 memories, birth by sleep and dream drop distance are essential. the rest, not really   ala1995ginobiko Member Oct 25, 2017 1,564 Izanagi89 said: At least we got a KH4 mention 🤷‍♂️ Click to expand... Click to shrink... Not even a "look forward for updates soon!", just a basic PR message to let us know it's still alive lol   LostSkullKid Member Nov 27, 2017 5,142 HolyJonte said: I have only played KH1 and 2. Is the mobile and side games normally important for the story, overall. Or are they just adding some small things here and there? Click to expand... Click to shrink... The "side games" honestly have about 100 times more relevancy than KH1. Half of KH1 has been retconned at this point.   u_neek Member Oct 28, 2017 1,734 Euler said: Watch the story of this game still be necessary to understand KH5 Click to expand... Click to shrink... It'll be released as a paid pdf. In latin. In several parts.   Foffy Member Oct 25, 2017 17,581 These mobile games from Square-Enix launch and end at much faster rates! HolyJonte said: I have only played KH1 and 2. Is the mobile and side games normally important for the story, overall. Or are they just adding some small things here and there? Click to expand... Click to shrink... Kingdom Hearts is a series where even the "spin off" games are significant to the story and lore. Nomura's always planted seeds in one game that get answered in another, and he's allowed mobile games to have the same treatment so nothing is really skippable if you wanted the whole lore. Maybe Coded is the only skippable entry?  LimeTime Member Jul 17, 2023 1,080 What's funny about this whole situation is that if they just developed a PS3-fidelity, single player Kingdom Hearts side game for the Switch akin to what they used to do back in the day with things like Chain of Memories, Birth by Sleep, or Dream Drop Distance that shit would've probably been out already and they could've made some money. Could've maybe even been a Switch 2 launch game. Oh well!   Izanagi89 "This guy are sick" and Corrupted by Vengeance Member Oct 27, 2017 18,762 ala1995ginobiko said: Not even a "look forward for updates soon!", just a basic PR message to let us know it's still alive lol Click to expand... Click to shrink... Yo at this point I take what I can get 😂  Kalentan Member Oct 25, 2017 50,564 My friend who loves KH, is very happy about this lol   OP OP Chaserjoey Keeper of the White Materia Member Oct 27, 2017 9,857 Apparently this started development in January 2019 with one person doing concepts and it spun off from there. 6 years spent on a mobile game that they canned.   DatManOvaDer Member Oct 25, 2017 3,473 LimeTime said: What's funny about this whole situation is that if they just developed a PS3-fidelity, single player Kingdom Hearts side game for the Switch akin to what they used to do back in the day with things like Chain of Memories or Birth by Sleep that shit would've probably been out already and they could've made some money. Could've maybe even been a Switch 2 launch game. Oh well! Click to expand... Click to shrink... Heard this was the pivot (not switch specifically) but dev still wasn't going well   Kuro Member Oct 25, 2017 24,374 They have been canceling Mobile games left and right and now this one before it even comes out. Damn. Hopefully this doesn't affect KH4 but I'm also not surprised to hear they wanted it to tie into it. Square really gotta stop doing that.   Nateo Member Oct 27, 2017 8,970 Wow. Honestly GPS stuff was the weak link. But that was probably the only think making them the money in reality. DatManOvaDer said: Heard this was the pivot (not switch specifically) but dev still wasn't going well Click to expand... Click to shrink... It could have worked it was basically KH in mobile form except for the GPS stuff. They would have had to flesh out all the levels though. Raiding with a bunch of people was cool as shit tho.   Liam Allen-Miller Member Nov 2, 2017 7,963 Shibuya I have a piece of physical merchandise for this game. Glad I won't waste my time on more gacha bullshit.  Necromanti Member Oct 25, 2017 12,790 I feel like I'm as adept at keeping up with the KH lore/side projects as I am with the MCU, i.e. not at all.   LimeTime Member Jul 17, 2023 1,080 DatManOvaDer said: Heard this was the pivot (not switch specifically) but dev still wasn't going well Click to expand... Click to shrink... Damn, really? Why can't they make Kingdom Hearts games at the Kingdom Hearts factory anymore? The FF7 Remake team is probably going to have made an entire trilogy of games in the time it takes the Kingdom Hearts team to make one!  Delaney Member Oct 25, 2017 3,851 This was indeed for the best.  Atom Member Jul 25, 2021 15,248 u_neek said: It'll be released as a paid pdf. In latin. In several parts. Click to expand... Click to shrink... It won't be a pdf lol, that's too reasonable. It will be an always-online DRMed login portal, akin to the bizarre shit Square did for the FFVII Rebirth artbook on Steam Steam :: FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH :: How to access the Square Enix Digital Content Viewer The digital art book and digital mini-soundtrack (henceforth referred to as “this content”) included in the FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH Digital Deluxe Edition, the FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE & REBIRTH Digital Deluxe Twin Pack and the FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH Digital Deluxe Edition Upgrade can be... steamcommunity.com Or a Japan only stageplay. LimeTime said: Damn, really? Why can't they make Kingdom Hearts games at the Kingdom Hearts factory anymore? Click to expand... Click to shrink... Nomura not sure if it should be a musical or not. RIP spinoffs. Didn't know how good we had it waiting for KH3. Never getting a Kairi/Aqua fuck shit up game. Liam Allen-Miller said: I have a piece of physical merchandise for this game. Click to expand... Click to shrink... Double check that it's not evaporating as you speak.  reksveks Member May 17, 2022 7,373 Dal said: Square Enix's mobile ventures always felt wasteful to me, there is no world in which big directors like Nomura and Yoko Taro should have been wasting YEARS on these games rather than developing actual, mainline console games (in the case of Nomura, he actually did, so.....) Click to expand... Click to shrink... Their mobile venture was more profitable then the HD games though. I would argue that alot of their macro current issues is actually cause their mobile games have kinda shat the bed recently.   ZeoVGM Member Oct 25, 2017 84,581 Providence, RI LimeTime said: Damn, really? Why can't they make Kingdom Hearts games at the Kingdom Hearts factory anymore? The FF7 Remake team is probably going to have made an entire trilogy of games in the time it takes the Kingdom Hearts team to make one! Click to expand... Click to shrink... They are literally making KH4 though?  Kalor Resettlement Advisor Member Oct 25, 2017 20,873 The setting looked cool, but not surprised considering the radio silence recently. At least its version of Dearly Beloved got out there.   LimeTime Member Jul 17, 2023 1,080 ZeoVGM said: They are literally making KH4 though? Click to expand... Click to shrink... I mean, I guess so. I'll have to take their word for it until I see that shit again.  OP OP Chaserjoey Keeper of the White Materia Member Oct 27, 2017 9,857 I wish they could have shown off some of what they had been working on. I've been so curious to see how they were going to tackle Disney worlds (with Pinocchio being the first one we were meant to visit) And rumour from a gathering they held was they had worlds based on more recent films like Luca.  Japanmanx3 One Winged Slayer Avenger Oct 25, 2017 6,592 Atlanta, GA I really hope at least the story is preserved. KHuX and Dark Road deserve the lore preservation as well. Not mad about missing a gacha though.  ZeoVGM Member Oct 25, 2017 84,581 Providence, RI LimeTime said: I mean, I guess so. I'll have to take their word for it until I see that shit again. Click to expand... Click to shrink... You'll see it at SGF and it'll release next spring.  NekoNeko Coward Oct 26, 2017 20,214 Euler said: Watch the story of this game still be necessary to understand KH5 Click to expand... Click to shrink... nothing will help with that.   LimeTime Member Jul 17, 2023 1,080 ZeoVGM said: You'll see it at SGF and it'll release next spring. Click to expand... Click to shrink... You have no idea how happy this would make me. I'll go crazy if this is true.  OrigamiPirate One Winged Slayer Member Oct 31, 2017 695 San Francisco Hm…. Despite burning out on KHUX and DR each, I find I'm actually pretty bummed about this?   hydrophilic attack went to hypogean jail Member Oct 25, 2017 23,540 Sweden Atom said: RIP spinoffs. Didn't know how good we had it waiting for KH3 Click to expand... Click to shrink... that wasn't good tbh. my sister enjoyed the first two mainline games but i can't in good conscience recommend the third to her, with all the spinoff games she'd have to play or watch just to understand what's going on in the story. if this means the end of spin-off games on half a dozen different platforms in between mainline entries, honestly good riddance   rottenpie One Winged Slayer Member Oct 28, 2017 2,728 Idgaf about mobile games so I'm totally okay with this