Square Enix and Disney have revealed new details for Kingdom Hearts 4 at Disney's D23 event, confirming the first Disney movie world and a release window of 'late 2027'. The trailer, which debuted on August 15, 2026, showcases the world of Pixar's Coco, marking the first Disney-themed world revealed for the game. This announcement comes after the initial gameplay trailer shown at the summer Nintendo Direct in June, which featured Quadratum, a world resembling modern-day Earth.
D23 Trailer Highlights: Coco World and More
The new trailer at D23 focuses on Sora battling enemies in the vibrant Coco world, with visuals that closely mimic the film's style. Other glimpses include Mickey Mouse pondering in a library and Goofy conversing with Hades from Hercules. While the trailer doesn't reveal extensive gameplay details, the release window of 'late 2027' has been met with relief from fans, as it's sooner than many anticipated given the long gap since Kingdom Hearts 3 in 2019.
Kingdom Hearts 4 was first announced in 2022, but details have been sparse. The franchise typically features around a dozen worlds per game, though not all are based on Disney or Square Enix properties, as seen with Quadratum. The Coco world is the first Disney movie world confirmed for the game.
Rumors and Speculation: Star Wars and Marvel
Early teases for Kingdom Hearts 4 hinted at a possible Star Wars world, with imagery resembling an AT-ST on the forest moon of Endor. Despite persistent rumors, this has never been officially confirmed. A Marvel world has also been rumored, but no firm evidence has surfaced. However, the franchise has previously included live-action properties like Pirates of the Caribbean and Tron, making such inclusions plausible.
Disney's recent willingness to use its intellectual property across various media, including a Star Wars/Marvel crossover comic and a rumored Lego set, suggests that more crossovers could be on the horizon. Yet, as of now, neither Star Wars nor Marvel has been confirmed for Kingdom Hearts 4.
Anime Series Announced for Disney+ and Disney Channel
In addition to the game, Disney announced an original Kingdom Hearts anime series, set to air on Disney Channel and Disney+. The series will be developed with Square Enix and series creator Tetsuya Nomura, but it will feature an original story rather than adapting the games directly. This marks a significant expansion of the franchise into television.
The announcement was made via Disney's official Twitter account, which posted a teaser image with the caption: 'Ready for a new adventure? An original Kingdom Hearts anime series inspired by the beloved video game franchise is coming soon to @DisneyChannel and @DisneyPlus.'
Future Reveals and Industry Context
More Kingdom Hearts information may emerge over the weekend, but no Marvel or Star Wars video game news has appeared at D23 so far. This is typical for the event, though the absence of a Star Wars Celebration this year had led to speculation that Star Wars Jedi 3 might be revealed. If not, the next likely venue is The Game Awards in December, though a Disney/Lucasfilm event seems more probable for the trilogy's conclusion.
For now, fans can look forward to the late 2027 release window and the upcoming anime series, which will provide new content in the Kingdom Hearts universe. The game's development continues, with more details expected as the release approaches.
