Kingdom Hearts creator Tetsuya Nomura recently hinted at a pivotal shift for the series with the upcoming fourth mainline installment. Discover what he revealed about this significant chapter.
Nomura Hints at a Series Conclusion with Kingdom Hearts 4
Kingdom Hearts 4: A Story Reset, According to Nomura
The future of Kingdom Hearts appears both promising and potentially definitive, based on a recent interview with creator Tetsuya Nomura. Anticipation for Kingdom Hearts 4 is high, and Nomura's comments suggest a major turning point for the franchise.
In an interview with Young Jump (translated by KH13), Nomura stated that Kingdom Hearts 4 is designed "with the intention of it being a story that leads to the conclusion." This doesn't necessarily confirm a series finale, but it strongly suggests the beginning of a final saga. The game initiates the "Lost Master Arc," a fresh narrative accessible to both newcomers and veterans, requiring no extensive prior knowledge.
Nomura explained, "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," adding, "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."
While Nomura's statements point towards a potential end to the main storyline, the series' history is full of unexpected twists. A seemingly definitive ending might allow for interpretation or future spin-offs. The diverse cast also opens possibilities for individual character-driven adventures, especially given Nomura's inclusion of new writers.
Nomura told Young Jump, "Both Kingdom Hearts Missing Link and Kingdom Hearts IV have been created with a stronger focus on being new titles rather than sequels," noting the involvement of writers new to the Kingdom Hearts series. "Of course, I will be editing it in the end, but I don't think it will be positioned as a work that needs to be done in the sense that the writer who has never been involved in the 'Kingdom Hearts' series is creating a new base."
This injection of fresh creative talent is exciting, promising new narrative energy while retaining core elements. New perspectives could yield innovative gameplay and unexplored territory within the Disney and Square Enix collaboration.
However, Nomura's own future is a factor. He confirmed consideration of retirement within a few years, posing the question: "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 initial trailer showcases the beginning of 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.
Nomura stated (translated by VGC), "From each of our perspectives, our perceptions change. 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 Young Jump interview, this Tokyo-inspired, dreamlike world is not entirely new; he conceived it during the first game's development.
Unlike the whimsical Disney worlds of previous titles, Quadratum offers a more realistic setting. This, combined with enhanced visuals, leads to a reduction in the number of Disney worlds.
Nomura told GameInformer in 2022, "With regards to Kingdom Hearts IV, players are definitely going to see a few Disney worlds in there...Since each new title, the specs have been really increasing, and there’s so much more we can do in terms of graphics, it kind of limits the number of worlds that we can create in a sense. At this time, we’re considering how to approach that, but there will be Disney worlds in Kingdom Hearts IV."
While fewer Disney worlds are a change, this streamlining might create a more focused narrative, easing the complexity that sometimes overwhelmed players.
Whether Kingdom Hearts 4 concludes the series or ushers in a new era, it's a pivotal moment for Sora and his companions. For many fans, a final chapter under Nomura's guidance, though bittersweet, will be an epic culmination of a story spanning over two decades.
