Square Enix and Disney have announced that Kingdom Hearts IV is slated for a late 2027 release. The news was shared at the D23 event, which also revealed an upcoming Kingdom Hearts scripted series for Disney+ and Disney Channel.
Details regarding the new game are emerging, with a fresh trailer confirming that one of the featured worlds will be based on Pixar's 2017 film, Coco. The trailer also offered a glimpse of Mickey, Donald, and Goofy in their search for Sora, who disappeared following the events of Kingdom Hearts III. It appears Sora may be separated from his companions for portions of the game, as Donald and Goofy are not shown in the Coco-themed world.
The Kingdom Hearts animated series, while still scarce on details, is confirmed to be an original story within the Kingdom Hearts universe. Series director Tetsuya Nomura will be involved, suggesting the show may be canon and have significant implications for the franchise's ongoing narrative. The series will not feature the familiar trio of Sora, Donald, and Goofy as its main characters.
Further information about the Kingdom Hearts franchise is expected to be revealed during a dedicated panel at D23, scheduled for 4:30 PM Pacific Time / 7:30 PM Eastern Time. This panel will be livestreamed on the official Kingdom Hearts YouTube channel, unlike the initial announcement which took place during a general Disney showcase.