Kingdom Hearts creator Tetsuya Nomura recently hinted that the fourth mainline entry will be a pivotal moment for the series. Let's delve into his revelations about this new chapter.
Tetsuya Nomura Hints at a Series Turning Point with Kingdom Hearts 4
Kingdom Hearts 4: A Story Leading to a Conclusion?
The future of Kingdom Hearts appears both exciting and potentially conclusive, according to a recent interview with creator Tetsuya Nomura. Looking ahead to Kingdom Hearts 4, Nomura's comments suggest a major turning point for the franchise.
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 the series' end, this sets the stage for what could be the final saga. This game initiates the "Lost Master Arc," a fresh narrative accessible to newcomers and veterans alike, without requiring extensive prior knowledge of the intricate storylines.
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 Nomura's words suggest a potential end to the main storyline, the series' history warrants consideration. Kingdom Hearts is known for its twists and turns. What might seem conclusive could be open to interpretation, potentially paving the way for future spin-offs or side stories. The series boasts a vast cast; any character could potentially star in future adventures. This is especially relevant given Nomura's revelation about new writers joining the Kingdom Hearts universe.
"Both Kingdom Hearts Missing Link and Kingdom Hearts IV have been created with a stronger focus on being new titles rather than sequels," Nomura told Young Jump. "For example, as a new experiment, we have had staff who have not been involved in the Kingdom Hearts series before participate in writing the scenario. 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."
The involvement of new writers is exciting. It could inject fresh energy into the narrative while preserving beloved core elements. New perspectives might introduce innovative gameplay and unexplored territory within the Disney and Square Enix crossover.
However, while Nomura's vision has been crucial to the series' success (and occasional confusion), he's considering retirement in a few years. He poses 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 under development. The first trailer showcases the beginning of the "Lost Master Arc." Details are scarce, but the trailer reveals Sora awakening in Quadratum, a world Nomura described in a 2022 Famitsu interview (translated by VGC) as an alternate reality similar to our own.
"From each of our perspectives, our perceptions change," Nomura stated. "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."
According to Nomura's Young Jump interview, this Tokyo-esque world with a dreamlike quality isn't entirely new; he conceived it during the first game's development.
Compared to the whimsical Disney worlds of previous titles, Quadratum offers a more grounded, realistic setting. This, combined with increased visual fidelity, leads to a reduction in the number of Disney worlds.
"With regards to Kingdom Hearts IV, players are definitely going to see a few Disney worlds in there," Nomura told GameInformer in 2022. "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, streamlining could lead to a more focused narrative, potentially mitigating the complexity that sometimes overwhelmed players in previous installments.
Whether Kingdom Hearts 4 concludes the series or ushers in a new era, it will be a significant moment for Sora and his companions. For many fans, seeing Kingdom Hearts potentially reach its conclusion under Nomura's direction, while bittersweet, would be an epic ending to a story over two decades in the making.
