Following an initial teaser on Friday, the "Deep Dive into Kingdom Hearts" panel at D23 provided a comprehensive look at Kingdom Hearts IV with an extended four-minute trailer. The footage offers a significant look at the game's integration of the Coco universe and introduces a unique, paper-stylized version of Mickey Mouse as a playable character. Franchise creator Tetsuya Nomura and co-director Tai Yasue appeared on stage to assure fans that development is firmly on track for a late 2027 launch.
The cast continues to take shape, with actor Benjamin Bratt confirmed to reprise his role as Ernesto de la Cruz. Square Enix has confirmed that Kingdom Hearts IV will see a simultaneous global release across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC platforms, including Steam, the Epic Games Store, and the Microsoft Store.
Beyond the main console entry, the event signaled a major expansion for the property. Disney announced that a new Kingdom Hearts anime series is currently in production, slated for release on Disney Channel and Disney+. This move underscores the franchise's status as a billion-dollar pillar for Disney, even as the company streamlines its gaming portfolio following the cancellation of Kingdom Hearts Missing-Link earlier in 2025.
For those looking to catch up on the sprawling narrative, Square Enix is preparing a comprehensive Kingdom Hearts Collection [I~III] for modern hardware, including the Switch 2. This collection will bundle the HD 1.5 + 2.5 ReMIX, HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue, and Kingdom Hearts III + Re Mind (DLC), ensuring the entire saga is accessible ahead of the next major chapter.
