The Kingdom Hearts is a lot of things, with a common descriptor being “convoluted”. With 22 years of lore spanning 18 titles, it can be difficult for fans to keep track of the larger narrative and the specifics of it all. Good news — they aren’t alone in feeling this way, as creator Tetsuya Nomura has admitted to being in the same shoes.
In an interview with Young Jump, the industry veteran revealed that he watches lore and gameplay videos on YouTube to stay fresh on the ever-growing narrative. While he mostly relies on his collection of notes and reference materials covering different characters, eras, and potential developments, Nomura notes the fan interpretations and analysis are “genuinely interesting”.
The series director, co-writer, and lead artist also shared a little more about Kingdom Hearts 4, first announced in 2022. For starters, the long-awaited sequel will move towards the overall saga’s conclusion, acting as both a story reset and starting point for newcomers. No further details on the story were given, sparking another round of pining for updates after a two-year radio silence.
When the time comes, the Kingdom Hearts community can see Sora in a new coat of paint. An earlier Unreal Engine 4 demo showed the Keyblade wielder in action, but the actual game will be made in Unreal Engine 5. The upcoming outing currently has no release date, and is expected to feature a crossover with Star Wars.
Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.
Edwin Teo
