Just today, Square Enix decided to cancel Kingdom Hearts: Missing Link. The game was envisioned as a Pokemon GO-style experience where players could explore iconic Disney worlds as Keyblade wielders. Interestingly, it made headlines the day before its cancellation for breaking a series record, featuring over 20 Disney worlds in its files.
Missing Link had gone three years without any development updates, leaving fans concerned about the series' future. Now, with the game officially shelved, those concerns can finally be put to rest.
But this isn’t the end of the series. In fact, the cancellation of Missing Link and potentially the end of Kingdom Hearts’ foray into mobile games might actually be a good thing. Here's why:
It Will No Longer Be a Mobile Story
One of the series' biggest missteps since the release of Union X was placing key pieces of Kingdom Hearts lore on mobile devices. It wasn’t until the Kingdom Hearts III build-up that Square Enix seemed to realize how crucial that lore had become, bringing in characters like Ephemer in the game’s final level.
The mobile games included exclusive cutscene-only segments, later bundled into "Complete Editions" of the mainline games. Players unfamiliar with these side stories were left trying to piece together the narrative. All this extra lore was overwhelming for those who only played Kingdom Hearts 1, 2, and 3. As someone who never touched the mobile titles, I relied on YouTubers like Everglow and TheGamersJoint to understand what was happening.
With Missing Link now canceled, there’s a good chance its story will return in a more accessible format. After all, plenty of lore remains left to unpack based on its first reveal trailer alone.
A Focus on Kingdom Hearts 4
Canceling Missing Link could signal one of two things: either Square Enix is developing a new title or putting their full focus into Kingdom Hearts 4. The latter seems more likely.
With resources now redirected toward Sora’s next journey, there’s potential for more Disney worlds to be included in the fourth mainline game. Who knows, maybe this will be when we finally get a MARVEL or Star Wars world.
Though Kingdom Hearts 4 is still years away and much remains under wraps, Missing Link’s cancellation allows the series to move forward. It marks a shift in focus, away from mobile spin-offs that often receive mixed feedback from fans.
I think it’s high time Square Enix moved on from its mobile experiments. They never seem to land the way the company intends. Take Final Fantasy VII: The First Soldier, their attempt at a PUBG-style mobile game. It was ultimately canceled due to low player support. Similarly, Union X and Dark Road are no longer supported online and have been transitioned into offline modes.
By cancelling Missing Link, Square Enix is making the right move for both the franchise and its fans. It’s time for Tetsuya Nomura to fully focus on Kingdom Hearts 4, where the series truly belongs.