"Kingdom Hearts Missing-Link Mobile Game Cancelled; Square Enix Focuses on Kingdom Hearts 4"

The much-anticipated mobile title Kingdom Hearts Missing-Link, a GPS-based action-RPG set in the expansive Kingdom Hearts universe, has officially been cancelled by Square Enix. Originally scheduled for a 2024 release, the game was designed to immerse players in an original story centered around the realm of Scala ad Caelum and the ongoing battle against the Heartless.

In a recent statement posted on the game’s X/Twitter account, Square Enix extended its sincere apologies to fans who had eagerly awaited the game's launch. The company explained that the decision to cancel stemmed from internal evaluations that concluded it would be challenging to maintain a service that could consistently meet player expectations over time. While the message did not specify the exact difficulties encountered during development, it acknowledged the effort put into refining the game through multiple closed beta tests.

"We wish to convey our heartfelt apologies to everyone who has been looking forward to the start of service," the statement read. "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."

Square Enix also expressed gratitude to those who supported the project through testing phases and assured fans that the broader Kingdom Hearts series remains a priority. Notably, the publisher confirmed that Kingdom Hearts 4 is still in active development, marking one of the few public updates regarding the next major entry in the franchise in recent months.

This announcement serves as the first official mention of Kingdom Hearts 4 since a brief teaser released earlier this year. Despite having debuted with a cinematic trailer back in September 2022, details about the game have remained scarce, continuing the tradition of suspense and mystery that often surrounds major entries in the series.

Series director Tetsuya Nomura has previously hinted that Kingdom Hearts 4 will begin steering the long-running narrative toward its final act—offering hope to longtime fans who have followed the saga across 18 titles over the past two decades.