Disney has declared the Kingdom Hearts series to be a billion-dollar franchise, placing it among the company's most successful video game properties. This announcement comes shortly before a highly anticipated panel at the D23 fan convention, where many expect updates on the forthcoming Kingdom Hearts 4.
In a recent blog post, Disney revealed its gaming portfolio includes nine franchises that have each surpassed the billion-dollar mark. Among these are Kingdom Hearts and Marvel Strike Force, with more than half of these major franchises having emerged in the past 12 years. Collectively, Disney games have generated an estimated $3.5 billion in annual consumer spending over the last four years, exceeding $4 billion in the most recent fiscal year. This figure encompasses all titles based on Disney intellectual property, including those from Marvel and Star Wars.
Upcoming titles from Disney include Marvel's Wolverine by Insomniac Games, EA's Iron Man game, and Star Wars Eclipse from Quantic Dream. Disney also holds the rights for future installments such as Respawn's Star Wars Jedi 3, Creative Assembly's Alien: Isolation 2, and Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra.
The inclusion of Kingdom Hearts on Disney's list of billion-dollar franchises may come as a surprise to some, given the relatively infrequent release of main entries since the series debuted in 2002 with Kingdom Hearts on the PlayStation 2. This designation highlights the significant commercial success of the games and underscores the considerable anticipation for Kingdom Hearts 4.
A livestream of the D23 "DEEP DIVE into KINGDOM HEARTS" panel is scheduled for August 15 at 4:30 p.m. PT / 7:30 p.m. ET (August 16 at 12:30 a.m. UK time). Disney has stated the panel will offer a behind-the-scenes look at game development. However, the presence of key figures on the panel has ignited speculation about potential news regarding Kingdom Hearts 4. Scheduled guests include Nana Gadd from Disney & Pixar Games, Tai Yasue from Square Enix, Haley Joel Osment (the voice of Sora), David Gallagher (the voice of Riku), and Renée Johnson, known for her Disney character voice work. The involvement of Yasue, widely believed to be a co-director for Kingdom Hearts 4, further bolsters expectations for revelations about the sequel.
Kingdom Hearts 4 was previously revealed with a gameplay trailer during a surprise appearance at the June 2026 Nintendo Direct. Square Enix has confirmed that the game will launch simultaneously on PC via the Epic Games Store and Steam, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X and S. A release on the Nintendo Switch 2 has also been confirmed.
An official description for Kingdom Hearts 4 states that the game will introduce players to the mysterious city of Quadratum, where protagonist Sora will encounter new characters. Sora's journey will involve traversing various realms, awakening new powers, and embarking on the next chapter of his story. The title is slated for release on the Nintendo Switch 2 at launch.