Kingdom Hearts creator Tetsuya Nomura recently hinted at a pivotal turning point for the series with the upcoming fourth mainline entry. Discover what he revealed about this crucial chapter.
Nomura Hints at a Potential Series Conclusion with Kingdom Hearts 4
Kingdom Hearts 4: A Story Leading to Resolution
The future of Kingdom Hearts appears both captivating and potentially conclusive, according to a recent interview with creator Tetsuya Nomura. Anticipation for Kingdom Hearts 4 is high, and Nomura's comments suggest the next installment will be a significant turning point.
In an interview with Young Jump (translated by KH13), Nomura stated that Kingdom Hearts 4 is being developed "with the intention of it being a story that leads to the conclusion." While not confirming a series finale, this sets the stage for what could be the final saga. This new chapter, the "Lost Master Arc," is designed to be accessible to both newcomers and veterans, requiring less prior knowledge of the intricate storylines.
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 words suggest a potential end to the main storyline, the series' history of twists and turns must be considered. What seems conclusive might allow for interpretation or future spin-offs. The extensive cast also opens possibilities for individual character-driven adventures, especially with Nomura's confirmation of new writers joining the Kingdom Hearts universe.
"Both Kingdom Hearts Missing Link and Kingdom Hearts IV have been created with a stronger focus on being new titles rather than sequels," Nomura told Young Jump. He elaborated on the inclusion of new writers: "As a new experiment, we have had staff who have not been involved in the Kingdom Hearts series before participate in writing the scenario. 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."
The addition of new writers is exciting, potentially infusing fresh energy while preserving beloved core elements. New perspectives could introduce innovative gameplay and unexplored territory within the Disney and Square Enix collaboration.
However, Nomura's creative vision, while crucial to the series' success (and occasional confusion), is facing a personal deadline. He stated, "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 currently under development. The game's initial trailer showcases the start of the "Lost Master Arc." Details are scarce, but the trailer shows Sora awakening in Quadratum, a world Nomura described in a 2022 Famitsu interview (translated by VGC) as an alternate reality.
"From each of our perspectives, our perceptions change," Nomura explained. "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 world, with a dreamlike quality, isn't entirely new; he conceived it during the first game's development.
Compared to the whimsical Disney worlds of previous titles, Quadratum offers a more realistic setting. This, along with enhanced visuals, has resulted in a reduction in the number of Disney worlds.
"With regards to Kingdom Hearts IV, players are definitely going to see a few Disney worlds in there," Nomura told GameInformer in 2022. "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 could lead to a more focused narrative, potentially addressing the complexity that has sometimes overwhelmed players.
Regardless of whether Kingdom Hearts 4 concludes the series or initiates a new chapter, it will be a pivotal moment for Sora and his companions. For many fans, a full-circle conclusion under Nomura's direction, while bittersweet, would be an epic end to a story spanning over two decades.
