"Kingdom Hearts Missing-Link Mobile Game Canceled; Square Enix Focuses on KH4"

Square Enix has officially announced the cancellation of Kingdom Hearts Missing-Link, the eagerly awaited GPS-based action-RPG for mobile devices. The game, which promised a new, original story set in the realm of Scala ad Caelum and focused on the grand battle against the Heartless, was initially scheduled for release in 2024. In a heartfelt statement shared via the game's X/Twitter account, Square Enix expressed deep regret to fans who were looking forward to the title, explaining that the decision to cancel was made because it would be challenging to provide a service that players would find satisfactory over an extended period. The statement did not specify the exact difficulties encountered during development.

"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 is a silver lining for Kingdom Hearts enthusiasts. Square Enix reassured fans that the "Kingdom Hearts series will continue," and confirmed that they are diligently working on Kingdom Hearts 4. They encouraged fans to keep supporting the series and stay tuned for further updates. This marks the first official mention of the highly-anticipated sequel 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 maintained a low profile on the project, leaving fans eager for more information in true series fashion.

Kingdom Hearts series director Tetsuya Nomura has hinted that Kingdom Hearts 4 will mark a significant milestone by steering the narrative towards its conclusion after 22 years and an impressive 18 games in the series.