Kingdom Hearts creator Tetsuya Nomura recently hinted at a pivotal shift for the series with the upcoming fourth mainline installment. This article delves into his revelations about this crucial chapter.
Nomura Hints at a Series Conclusion with Kingdom Hearts 4
Kingdom Hearts 4: A Story Reset, According to Nomura
The future of Kingdom Hearts appears both captivating and potentially conclusive, based on a recent interview with Nomura. He suggests Kingdom Hearts 4 represents a significant turning point.
In an interview with Young Jump (translated by KH13), Nomura stated Kingdom Hearts 4 is being developed "with the intention of it being a story that leads to the conclusion." While not explicitly confirming a series end, this positions the game as potentially the final saga. This new "Lost Master Arc" aims to be accessible to both newcomers and veterans, simplifying the previously complex narrative.
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 hinting at a potential conclusion to the main storyline, Nomura's comments should be viewed within the context of the series' history. Kingdom Hearts is known for its twists and turns. A seemingly definitive ending might allow for interpretation or future spin-offs. The diverse cast of characters also presents opportunities for future standalone adventures, especially given Nomura's inclusion of new writers.
Nomura told Young Jump, "Both Kingdom Hearts Missing Link and Kingdom Hearts IV have been created with a stronger focus on being new titles rather than sequels," noting the involvement of writers new to the franchise. He clarified, "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."
This injection of fresh creative voices is promising, potentially revitalizing the narrative while preserving beloved elements. New perspectives could also lead to innovative gameplay and unexplored areas within the Disney and Square Enix collaboration.
However, with Nomura considering retirement in a few years, he faces a personal challenge: "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 "Lost Master Arc" begins in the game's first trailer, showing Sora awakening in Quadratum—a world Nomura described in a 2022 Famitsu interview as an alternate reality similar to our own.
Nomura explained (translated by VGC), "From each of our perspectives, our perceptions change. 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."
This Tokyo-inspired world, possessing a dreamlike quality, has been a concept in Nomura's mind since the first game, according to his Young Jump interview.
In contrast to the whimsical Disney worlds of previous titles, Quadratum offers a more grounded setting. This, coupled with enhanced visuals, results in a reduced number of Disney worlds.
Nomura told GameInformer in 2022, "With regards to Kingdom Hearts IV, players are definitely going to see a few Disney worlds in there… 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 departure from the series' core, this streamlining might create a more focused narrative, mitigating the complexity that sometimes overwhelmed players.
Regardless of whether Kingdom Hearts 4 concludes the series or initiates a new era, it promises a significant moment for Sora and his companions. For many fans, a final chapter under Nomura's direction, though bittersweet, would offer an epic conclusion to a two-decade-long journey.
