Square Enix’s “U-Turn” Announcement
After over three years of anticipation from the gaming community, Square Enix has unexpectedly announced the complete cancellation of the development for Kingdom Hearts Missing-Link, a GPS-based action game that was intended to open a new direction for the Kingdom Hearts franchise. The announcement was made on the morning of May 14, 2025, Vietnam time, leaving many players heartbroken.
Kingdom Hearts Missing-Link was first announced in April 2022, aiming to be available on iOS and Android with gameplay that combines role-playing elements and GPS technology. This concept was inspired by games such as Pokémon GO. Square Enix conducted several closed beta tests in January 2023 and initially planned to release the game in 2024. However, by November 2024, the title was indefinitely postponed, causing the community to doubt the actual development situation.
In the recent announcement, Square Enix stated: “We have been working on development and adjustments with the hope that many players would enjoy this game, but we realize it is very difficult to provide a service that players can feel satisfied with over a long period.” They sincerely apologize to all passionate players who participated in the closed beta tests and followed the project throughout this time.
However, is Square Enix secretly developing another mobile game project?
Although Missing-Link has been cancelled, Square Enix has not ruled out the possibility of continuing the Kingdom Hearts series, and is currently focusing on developing “slow and steady progress” for Kingdom Hearts IV. Although there is no official release date yet, the next installment in this main series has received a significant amount of attention from the global fan community following the first teaser revealed in 2022.
The cancellation of Missing-Link highlights the challenges that Square Enix faces in expanding the Kingdom Hearts brand into the mobile gaming arena – a market that is becoming increasingly competitive and where products not only need to be of high quality but also require sustainable operational strategies.
In the end, the fortunate aspect is that the franchise still has Kingdom Hearts IV to look forward to. Currently, fans can only hope that Square Enix will fulfill its commitment and deliver a product that meets expectations without making players wait another three years.
