Kingdom Hearts Team Did Not Expect Its Long Story
Kingdom Hearts Team Did Not Expect the Story to Last This Long
Aside from Final Fantasy, one of Square Enix’s most beloved and long-running franchises is Kingdom Hearts.
The series began as a special collaboration with Disney, blending action RPG gameplay with magical worlds, original characters, and guest appearances from famous JRPG icons. More than 20 years later, Kingdom Hearts has become a major franchise with a dedicated fanbase and a story that continues to grow across multiple games.
However, even the team behind the series did not expect the journey to become this long.
Kingdom Hearts Became a Major Life Work for Nomura
Tetsuya Nomura, the key creative figure behind the Kingdom Hearts franchise, recently reflected on the series through an interview in Famitsu.
Nomura said Kingdom Hearts has become one of the biggest works of his life, and it is not something he can easily step away from. At the same time, he admitted that he never expected the story to continue for this long.
That statement feels understandable when looking at the series today. Even though the numbered mainline games have only reached four entries, the overall story has expanded through many important side games and connected titles.
Side Games Remain Important to the Story
Kingdom Hearts is known for having a complicated but deeply connected timeline.
The article notes that even games without numbered titles remain part of the main storyline. Titles such as Dream Drop Distance and Birth by Sleep are especially important because they cannot easily be separated from the wider narrative.
This is one reason the series has grown so large over time. Kingdom Hearts does not treat many of its side entries as optional filler. Instead, they often carry major story details that shape Sora’s journey and the future of the franchise.
From Disney Meetings to a Dreamlike Franchise
Nomura also looked back on the early days of the first Kingdom Hearts game.
During development, he visited Disney’s company offices several times to meet with the team and discuss ideas. Some concepts could not be done in the first game, but later became possible in following entries.
Because of that, Nomura described Kingdom Hearts as a place filled with dreams and magic.
That description fits the series well. Kingdom Hearts has always carried a strange but memorable charm, mixing emotional storytelling, original lore, Disney worlds, and Square Enix-style action RPG drama in a way few other games can copy.
Kingdom Hearts IV Is Still in Development
The article also gives a quick overview of Kingdom Hearts IV.
The new game is being developed with Unreal Engine 5 and takes place after the events of Kingdom Hearts III and Melody of Memory. In this next chapter, Sora is trapped in Quadratum, another-dimensional world that looks closer to reality.
The trailer shows a city that appears similar to Tokyo, Japan, giving Kingdom Hearts IV a very different atmosphere compared to many earlier fantasy-focused worlds.
A New Chapter After Years of Waiting
Kingdom Hearts IV will be the first major new numbered entry in several years.
According to the source, the game is planned for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC in the future. However, the game remains in development, so fans may still need to wait for more updates before its release.
Nomura ended by teasing fans to look forward to new things in Kingdom Hearts IV.
Kingdom Hearts lasting this long is honestly impressive. What started as a bold Square Enix and Disney collaboration has grown into one of gaming’s most emotional, complicated, and magical franchises. Nomura saying he did not expect the story to become this long makes the series feel even more special, because Kingdom Hearts has clearly evolved far beyond its original shape. With Kingdom Hearts IV moving into Quadratum and Unreal Engine 5, the next chapter could feel like a major turning point for Sora and the entire franchise.
