Fans of the Kingdom Hearts series received bittersweet news recently as Square Enix announced the cancellation of Kingdom Hearts Missing-Link, a GPS-based action-RPG designed for mobile devices. The game, which promised a fresh narrative set in the realm of Scala ad Caelum and was set to launch in 2024, would have continued the epic struggle against the Heartless. However, in a statement shared on the game's X/Twitter account, Square Enix expressed their "heartfelt apologies" to eager fans, explaining that it was "determined that it would be difficult to offer a service that players would find satisfactory over a long period of time." The reasons behind these challenges were not detailed in the statement.

The statement from Square Enix read, "We wish to convey our heartfelt apologies to everyone who has been looking forward to the start of service. 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 the disappointment, there's a silver lining for Kingdom Hearts enthusiasts. Square Enix confirmed they are diligently working on Kingdom Hearts 4, ensuring the series' continuation. This update marks the first significant mention of the sequel since a cryptic tease in January, following the game's initial reveal with a full cinematic trailer in September 2022. Since then, Square Enix has maintained a low profile, leaving fans eagerly awaiting more news. Series director Tetsuya Nomura has hinted that Kingdom Hearts 4 will begin steering the long-running saga, which spans 22 years and 18 games, towards its conclusion.