Don’t Worry About Delays,Kingdom Hearts 4 Directors Say Late 2027 Release Date Is ‘A 100-Percent Thing’

Kingdom Hearts fans, rejoice! The wait for Kingdom Hearts IV is almost over. While the series has a reputation for lengthy gaps between mainline entries, developers are assuring us that the release date of “late 2027” is rock solid. Forget those whispers of delays; Tetsuya Nomura and Tai Yasue have spoken, and they’re confident.

A Solid Release Date?

During a recent panel at D23, co-director Tetsuya Nomura directly addressed concerns about potential release date slippage. “I saw online that some people were saying the release date might still get pushed back,” he stated (via IGN). “I want to set the record straight: That is not happening.” This direct reassurance should calm many anxious hearts within the Kingdom Hearts community.

The history of the series does lend itself to skepticism, however. The gap between Kingdom Hearts II and Kingdom Hearts III was a staggering 14 years! While a late 2027 release would only represent an 8-year wait since Kingdom Hearts III, it’s understandable why some fans are hesitant.

Let’s take a quick look at Square Enix’s planned releases for 2027. The year is already shaping up to be incredibly busy:

January 2027: Final Fantasy XIV expansion, [Evercold,] will launch. Spring 2027: Final Fantasy Revelation is slated to arrive. Late 2027: Kingdom Hearts IV is currently scheduled for release.

This packed calendar presents a potential challenge. While different teams are working on each project, the possibility of shared resources or development team overlap could create unforeseen delays. However, co-director Tai Yasue remains optimistic about Square Enix’s ability to manage these projects effectively.

“I can confidently say and promise that it will launch in 2027,” Yasue declared at D23. “It’s not like an 80-percent, 90-percent—it’s a 100-percent thing. We’ll be there in 2027 for sure.”

So, mark your calendars! While the road to Quadratum may have been long, Kingdom Hearts IV is finally on the horizon, and developers are committed to delivering it in late 2027.