Kingdom Hearts: Missing-Link – Everything We Know So Far

Bad news for Kingdom Hearts fans, which you’ve probably already heard: Kingdom Hearts: Missing-Link, originally announced for 2024, has been delayed indefinitely, with no confirmed release date for now. It was supposed to be a smartphone game with an innovative location-based approach and gameplay mechanics that would expand the KH universe’s lore, and it had certainly generated a lot of expectations. But a tweet published on November 19 confirmed what we already feared: the game’s release date had been postponed. In this article, we’ll tell you everything we know about the game so far.

What is Kingdom Hearts: Missing-Link?

The game’s development was announced on April 10, 2022, during the celebration of Kingdom Hearts’ 20th anniversary. During the same event, Kingdom Hearts IV was also announced, which was meant to be a reboot of the franchise. However, we don’t know much about it either: it starts in Quadratum, a realistic world very similar to our Tokyo, and it will mark the beginning of the story arc called The Lost Master.

Kingdom Hearts: Missing-Link is an action RPG for mobile devices that combines GPS-based exploration, similar to Pokémon Go, with 3D environment battles. From what we saw in the game’s trailer, it was supposed to allow us to explore an open environment based on our location, even teaming up with other players, while also giving us the option to travel to other places to fight and explore them as well.

We know that one of the game’s key locations is the city of Scala ad Caelum, which we discovered in Kingdom Hearts III and is the city where the Order of Keyblade Masters originated. The events of Kingdom Hearts: Missing-Link take place between two other mobile games in the saga: Union χ (2017) and Dark Road (2020). Both shut down their servers in 2021, but Dark Road remains accessible as an offline version, where players can experience the full story and cinematics of a young Xehanort on his path to darkness.

What else do we know about Kingdom Hearts: Missing-Link? We know that players will be able to find and collect “pieces” (though we don’t know exactly what they are), featuring both Disney characters and original characters from the Kingdom Hearts series. These pieces will also be usable in combat.

Delays and Current Status

Although the original release was planned for late 2024, in November Square Enix announced the indefinite delay of Missing-Link. Between November 29 and December 8, 2023, some iOS users in the UK, Australia, and Japan were able to access a beta. Later, between May 2 and May 10, 2024, both iOS and Android players from the UK and Australia had access to a second beta.

The lucky ones who got to play these betas explored part of the game and familiarized themselves with its mechanics, including gameplay, story, and monetization system. They played the first 20 minutes of the prologue and discovered the presence of a “nomad,” a mysterious character arriving in Scala ad Caelum. Players praised both the soundtrack and the quality of the 3D environments, but it seems that combat wasn’t as deep as in previous games in the saga, and there were no defensive options. However, this was over a year ago, so many things may have changed since then.

Passion for Kingdom Hearts

If you’ve browsed our website, you already know that we deeply love Kingdom Hearts. From earrings inspired by the game’s classic shapes, all kinds of pendants, to unique wedding rings based on some of the games, as well as Keyblades, Dream Eaters, the Mark of Mastery, and cards from Chain of Memories… you’ll find a variety of geek jewelry options to match your style. These pieces are not only a way to show our love for the saga, but also high-quality accessories for your everyday life.

And you? Which do you think will be released first—Kingdom Hearts IV or Kingdom Hearts: Missing-Link?