"Kingdom Hearts Missing-Link Canceled, Square Enix Focuses on Kingdom Hearts 4"

Fans of the Kingdom Hearts series received mixed news recently, as Square Enix announced the cancellation of the highly anticipated GPS-based action-RPG, Kingdom Hearts Missing-Link. The mobile game, which was set to explore the realm of Scala ad Caelum and offer a fresh narrative in the ongoing battle against the Heartless, was slated for a 2024 release. However, in an unsigned statement shared on the game's X/Twitter account, Square Enix expressed their "heartfelt apologies" to fans eagerly awaiting its launch. The company cited challenges in delivering a service that would satisfy players over an extended period as the reason for the cancellation, though specifics were not disclosed.

"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. 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."

Despite this setback, there's a silver lining for Kingdom Hearts enthusiasts. Square Enix reassured fans that the series is far from over, and they are diligently working on Kingdom Hearts 4. The statement concluded with a hopeful note, encouraging fans to keep an eye out for future updates on the next installment. This mention marks the first official update on Kingdom Hearts 4 in months, following a tiny, cryptic tease back in January. Despite being unveiled in September 2022 with a full cinematic trailer, Square Enix has maintained a low profile on the project, leaving fans eagerly awaiting more information in true Kingdom Hearts fashion.

Adding to the anticipation, series director Tetsuya Nomura has hinted that Kingdom Hearts 4 will, after 22 years and an impressive 18 games, begin steering the Kingdom Hearts narrative towards its long-awaited conclusion.