Square Enix has cancelled development on mobile RPG Kingdom Hearts: Missing Link.
The announcement came via the game’s official website, with developers citing a difficulty in creating an experience “that players would find satisfactory over a long period of time”.
Kingdom Hearts: Missing Link was originally announced in 2022 as part of the series’ 20th anniversary celebrations alongside Kingdom Hearts IV. It was slated to release on Android and iOS, with several beta tests conducted between 2022 and 2024. The last known communication was a delay from its launch window of 2024 in November last year. The full statement lies below:
We have made the decision to cancel the development of KINGDOM HEARTS Missing-Link.
We wish to convey our heartfelt apologies to everyone who has been looking forward to the start of service.
Although we worked hard on developing and adjusting the game in the hope that it would be enjoyed by lots of players, we determined that it would be difficult for us to offer a service that players would find satisfactory over a long period of time, leading us to the decision to cancel development.
We would like to take this opportunity to express our thanks to everyone who gave us their support and assistance with the multiple closed beta tests. We are truly sorry to have to make this announcement.
The KINGDOM HEARTS series will continue. We are hard at work on KINGDOM HEARTS IV, and hope you’ll continue to support the series as you keep an eye out for further updates.
Kingdom Hearts: Missing Link Screenshots
Kingdom Hearts: Missing Link was to be set in the city of Scala ad Caelum, a lore-important location revealed in Kingdom Hearts III. Players would have taken on the role of an unnamed protagonist exploring the city and outlying worlds, anchored to real-world locations by way of GPS. Set between Kingdom Hearts Union χ and Dark Road, it was set to connect Kingdom Hearts III to the still-in-development Kingdom Hearts IV. Sadly, it seems its namesake will reflect our reality alongside its fictional counterpart.
It’s always a blow to see development not come to fruition, especially in a high-profile franchise. But, carving out a niche in the global mobile space in our current age is an extremely difficult thing to do, with many things vying for both time and attention. Hopefully, the story relevance of Kingdom Hearts: Missing Link might be explored at a later date within the franchise.
As stated above, Kingdom Hearts IV is in active development, though no platforms or a release date have been confirmed.
Stay tuned to RPGFan for all news Kingdom Hearts and RPG!
Source: Gematsu
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