Kingdom Hearts creator Tetsuya Nomura recently hinted at a pivotal turning point for the series with the upcoming fourth mainline installment. Discover what he revealed about this significant chapter in the Kingdom Hearts saga.
Nomura Hints at a Potential Series Conclusion with Kingdom Hearts 4
Kingdom Hearts 4: A Story Leading to Resolution
The future of Kingdom Hearts appears both captivating and potentially conclusive, according to a recent interview with Nomura. His comments regarding Kingdom Hearts 4 suggest a major turning point.
In an interview with Young Jump (translated by KH13), Nomura stated that Kingdom Hearts 4 is being developed "with the intention of it being a story that leads to the conclusion." While not confirming a series finale, this strongly implies the start of a final saga. The game initiates the "Lost Master Arc," a fresh narrative accessible to both newcomers and veterans alike, bypassing the complexities of previous storylines.
"If you remember how the ending of Kingdom Hearts III goes, you'll understand that Sora ends up like that because he's ‘resetting’ the story in a way," Nomura explained. "So Kingdom Hearts IV should be easier to get into than before. I think that if you like the series, you'll feel like 'this is it', but I'm also hoping that as many new players as possible will play it."
Nomura's remarks suggest a potential end to the main storyline, yet Kingdom Hearts' history is full of unexpected twists. A seemingly definitive conclusion might allow for interpretation or pave the way for future spin-offs. The series' extensive cast also opens possibilities for individual character-driven adventures, especially with Nomura's announcement of new writers contributing to the Kingdom Hearts universe.
"Both Kingdom Hearts Missing Link and Kingdom Hearts IV have been created with a stronger focus on being new titles rather than sequels," Nomura told Young Jump. "We've included staff new to the Kingdom Hearts series in scenario writing. I'll oversee the final edits, but it won't be constrained by the limitations of a writer unfamiliar with the series establishing a new foundation."
The involvement of new writers is an exciting development, potentially injecting fresh perspectives while preserving beloved core elements. This could lead to innovative gameplay and unexplored territories within the Disney and Square Enix collaboration.
However, Nomura's creative vision, while integral to the series' success (and occasional confusion), is accompanied by his consideration of retirement within a few years. He faces a personal challenge: "If this isn't a dream, then I only have a few years left until I retire, and it's looking like: will I retire or will I finish the series first?"
A New Arc, A Fresh Start
Announced in April 2022, Kingdom Hearts 4 is under development. The first trailer showcases the "Lost Master Arc." Details are scarce, but the trailer reveals Sora awakening in Quadratum, a world Nomura described in a 2022 Famitsu interview as an alternate reality akin to our own.
"From each of our perspectives, our perceptions change," Nomura stated (translated by VGC). "From Sora’s perspective, Quadratum is an underworld, a fictional world that is different from reality. But from the point of view of the inhabitants on the Quadratum side, the world of Quadratum is reality, and the world where Sora and the others were is the other side, the fictional world."
According to Nomura's recent Young Jump interview, this Tokyo-inspired, dreamlike world is not entirely new; he conceived it during the first game's development.
In contrast to previous titles' whimsical Disney worlds, Quadratum offers a more grounded and realistic setting. This, combined with enhanced visual fidelity, results in a reduced number of Disney worlds.
"With regards to Kingdom Hearts IV, players are definitely going to see a few Disney worlds in there," Nomura told GameInformer in 2022. "The specs have been increasing, and there’s so much more we can do graphically, it kind of limits the number of worlds we can create. We’re considering how to approach that, but there will be Disney worlds in Kingdom Hearts IV."
While fewer Disney worlds are a departure from the series' core element, this streamlining could lead to a more focused narrative, mitigating the complexity that has occasionally challenged players.
Regardless of whether Kingdom Hearts 4 concludes the series or initiates a new chapter, it will be a momentous occasion for Sora and his companions. For many fans, a full-circle conclusion under Nomura's direction, though bittersweet, would be an epic culmination of a story spanning over two decades.
