Square Enix Cancels Kingdom Hearts: Missing-Link!

Square Enix has officially announced the cancellation of Kingdom Hearts: Missing-Link, their much-anticipated mobile game. While the news might come as a shock to some, it's not entirely unexpected given Square Enix's history of game cancellations. The development team had been diligently working on the project since 2019, conducting multiple closed beta tests on both Android and iOS platforms. The last update on the game's status came in November 2024 via a post on X, announcing a delay. Participants of the closed beta tests were understandably surprised, considering the advanced stage of the game's development.

Why Did Kingdom Hearts: Missing-Link Get Cancelled?

The decision to cancel Kingdom Hearts: Missing-Link stemmed from the development team's inability to envision a sustainable path forward that would meet player expectations. The game was intended to be a live-service experience, but the execution fell short of what was planned. Missing-Link was designed as a unique, GPS-based spinoff set in a forgotten chapter of the Kingdom Hearts saga, allowing players to explore the world and combat Heartless with their keyblades. Despite the initial intrigue around the innovative GPS features, the concept ultimately didn't pan out as hoped. Square Enix opted to cancel the project rather than release a substandard product, choosing instead to redirect their efforts.

If you're curious about what Kingdom Hearts: Missing-Link was supposed to be, you can still catch a glimpse of it in action:

But Kingdom Hearts IV Is Still Coming!

Despite the cancellation of Missing-Link, fans of the Kingdom Hearts series can take solace in the fact that Kingdom Hearts IV is still in development. Following years of silence, Square Enix provided a small update on the project, which was first revealed at the Kingdom Hearts 20th Anniversary event in 2022. The development of Kingdom Hearts IV is progressing, offering a silver lining for those disappointed by the cancellation of Missing-Link.

That wraps up the news on the cancellation of Kingdom Hearts: Missing-Link. Stay tuned for our next update on Plug In Digital's digital version of the popular board game Abalone.