Square Enix’s Kingdom Hearts: Missing-Link Gets Cancelled!

Square Enix has officially announced the cancellation of Kingdom Hearts: Missing-Link, their much-anticipated mobile game. While the news may have come as a shock to some, many fans were not entirely surprised, given Square Enix's history of game cancellations. The development team had been diligently working on the project since 2019, conducting multiple closed beta tests on both Android and iOS. However, the game's delay was announced in November 2024, leaving participants of the closed beta tests somewhat bewildered as the project appeared to be well underway.

Why Was Kingdom Hearts: Missing-Link Cancelled?

The decision to cancel Kingdom Hearts: Missing-Link stemmed from the team's realization that they couldn't envision a sustainable path forward that would meet player expectations. The game was intended to be a live-service experience, but the developers encountered challenges in executing this vision effectively. Missing-Link was designed as a unique GPS-based spinoff, allowing players to explore the world and engage in battles against Heartless using their keyblades, set within a forgotten chapter of the Kingdom Hearts universe. Despite the initial excitement surrounding its innovative GPS features, the concept did not translate well in practice. Square Enix opted to cancel the project rather than release a substandard product, choosing instead to redirect their focus.

For those curious about what Kingdom Hearts: Missing-Link was meant to be, you can view a glimpse of the game here:

But Kingdom Hearts IV Is Still Coming!

Despite the setback with Missing-Link, fans can take solace in the fact that Square Enix's attention is now fully directed towards Kingdom Hearts IV. First revealed at the Kingdom Hearts 20th Anniversary event in 2022, the development of the next mainline installment continues to progress. After years of silence, the recent update on Kingdom Hearts IV offers a glimmer of hope for the franchise's dedicated followers.

That wraps up the news on the cancellation of Kingdom Hearts: Missing-Link. Stay tuned for more updates, including our next feature on Plug In Digital’s digital version of the popular board game Abalone.