It's been a while since any significant updates on Kingdom Hearts 4 made headlines, but a recent development alongside the launch of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth has reignited excitement. An image shared on official channels to commemorate the release of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth has fueled speculation about what's in store for Sora in Kingdom Hearts 4.
Since the revelation of Kingdom Hearts 4 back in April 2022, Square Enix has kept details about Sora's next journey tightly under wraps, leaving fans eager for more. This vacuum has led to widespread conjecture and anticipation, with theories circulating about potential new worlds inspired by recent Disney animated films and the incorporation of other Disney-owned franchises like Marvel and Star Wars.
Kingdom Hearts 4 Acknowledges FF7 Rebirth Launch
The latest piece of information related to Kingdom Hearts surfaced through a social media post by the official Kingdom Hearts Twitter account. The post featured an image of Sora from Kingdom Hearts 3 standing in a city landscape, with a message in the corner extending congratulations to Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth on its successful launch.
Many fans mistakenly interpreted this image, extracted from Kingdom Hearts 3, as a sneak peek into Kingdom Hearts 4, sparking further speculation. Some enthusiasts eagerly analyzed the depiction, believing it to be Quadratum, the futuristic city setting of Kingdom Hearts 4, noting the distinctive alien script on signs and billboards, along with nods to real-life locations such as Shibuya's 109 department store. Others viewed the appearance of Sephiroth as a hint at his return to the Kingdom Hearts universe after his cameo as a secret boss in Kingdom Hearts 2.
However, a more cautious group of observers clarified that the image wasn't from Kingdom Hearts 4 but actually from a secret ending in Kingdom Hearts 3, digitally altered to feature Sephiroth. They also pointed out that a genuine Kingdom Hearts 4 preview wouldn't showcase Sora in his Kingdom Hearts 3 style and proportions but would likely reveal a more realistic, mature version of Sora in Kingdom Hearts 4. Moreover, it's improbable that Square Enix would unveil a major Kingdom Hearts 4 update within a casual congratulatory message for an unrelated game.
While there are strong connections between the creative teams behind Kingdom Hearts and Final Fantasy 7, notably through developer Tetsuya Nomura's involvement in both franchises, teasing Kingdom Hearts 4 in promotional content for a different game wouldn't align with sound marketing principles. Nonetheless, the buzz generated by the Twitter post underscores the eager anticipation among Kingdom Hearts enthusiasts as they eagerly await the game's eventual release.