In a surprise announcement that has stunned fans, Square Enix has officially cancelled the mobile title Kingdom Hearts Missing-Link just months after it was originally slated for a 2024 release.
The studio announced the cancellation via a statement on X, citing long-term service concerns as the key reason behind the decision.
“Although we worked hard on developing and adjusting the game in the hope that it would be enjoyed by lots of players,” the statement read, “we determined that it would be difficult for us to offer a service that players would find satisfactory over a long period of time.”
The game, designed as a GPS-based action RPG similar to Pokémon GO, had previously undergone limited testing phases in select markets. Despite enthusiasm from long-time Kingdom Hearts fans intrigued by its real-world location gameplay and lore tie-ins, the plug has now been pulled before full global launch.
This cancellation comes as a blow to the mobile division of the Kingdom Hearts franchise, which had previously found success with titles like Union χ and Dark Road. However, Square Enix was quick to reassure fans that this isn’t the end of the road for the series.
“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.”
The decision to cut Missing-Link has sparked mixed reactions online. While some fans applauded Square Enix for avoiding a potential half-baked release, others expressed disappointment given the months of teasers, trailers, and testing that had built anticipation.
Kingdom Hearts Missing Link, a mobile title, has been canceled by Square Enix.
Development on Kingdom Hearts IV continues. pic.twitter.com/A05QfrQESm
— The Game Awards (@thegameawards) May 14, 2025
Industry insiders note that this may be part of Square Enix’s broader strategy to streamline development efforts, especially after recent announcements of internal restructuring and a renewed focus on “high-quality, long-life titles.”
While the fate of Missing-Link has been sealed, fans can still look forward to Kingdom Hearts IV, which is rumored to take a more grounded, realistic visual approach based on early trailers that showed Sora in a city reminiscent of Tokyo.
For now, the mobile era of Kingdom Hearts takes a pause, but the mainline saga continues. Expect updates on KH4 later this year, possibly during Tokyo Game Show or a future State of Play.
TL;DR: Kingdom Hearts Missing-Link is officially cancelled. Kingdom Hearts IV is still in development and fans have reason to keep the faith.
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