Summary
As the wait forKingdom Hearts 4continues, theories have been growing about what kind of worlds players can expect to see in the game. TheKingdom Heartsseries is well known for its Disney-based maps featured within the games, and as the company continues to grow its reach and buy the rights to various franchises, the possibilities are only growing.
There isn’t much known aboutthe state ofKingdom Hearts 4at the moment. Rumors have suggested that the game may not even be released until 2026. Square Enix has yet to make any official confirmation, but the game’s secretive development has caused nearly countless rumors and theories to pop up. One of the most prevailing theories about the upcoming action RPG is thatStar Warswill play a role in the game’s story with its own world. Although this seems highly likely,Kingdom Hearts 4may merely be testing the waters by crossing over with the sci-fi franchise.
Kingdom Hearts 4 Using Star Wars as a Test Run For the Franchise’s Future
Star Wars Making Its Way Into the Fold
Kingdom Heartshas focused on a variety of Disney properties since the genesis of the series.Recurring worlds in theKingdom Heartsfranchisehave grown with each installment, andStar Warsworld could likely be set up to start off small and grow larger over time. This wouldn’t be the first timeKingdom Heartshas done this, either.Pirates of the Caribbean’s world is a perfect example of this. Originally shown as simply Port Royal inKingdom Hearts 2,Kingdom Hearts 3expanded upon the world by introducing the Caribbean.
The Nightmare Before Christmasis another demonstration of howKingdom Heartshas featured certain worlds, only for them to be better fleshed out in follow-up entries. WithStar Warsbeing abrand-new IP forKingdom Heartsto explore, leaning more into an experimental mindset with its own world could be the most productive move for the franchise’s future.Kingdom Hearts 4risks making aStar Warsworld too bloated if the game tries to cram every important aspect of the series in all at once.
Rumors aboutStar Warscoming toKingdom Hearts 4have been circulating for a long time. Due to the franchise’s massive popularity, the crossover feels inevitable, but aStar Warsworld would be best served if it leaves players wanting more. Starting small, like focusing a world on just Tatooine or an Ewok colony, could be enough of a sneak peek to be exciting while avoiding being overwhelming. This would also mirror Port Royal’s growth into the full-blown Caribbean.
Kingdom Hearts 4 Needs to Handle Star Wars With Great Care
Too Much Star Wars Risks Overshadowing Kingdom Hearts 4
As one of the biggest franchises in the world, anyStar Warsadaptation gets put under the microscope.Kingdom Hearts 4adaptingStar Warswhile still standing on its own will be difficult to accomplish.Star Warscan easily overshadow whatever it is featured in, which makes a slow-burn introduction to the franchise inKingdom Hearts 4a stronger path forward. Slow and steady givesStar Warsthe opportunity to grow along with futureKingdom Heartsgames instead of just being a one-off moment that feels more like pandering than any meaningful inclusion.
There arehigh hopes forKingdom Hearts 4, and if theStar Warstheories prove to be true, it could be a monumental moment for the Square Enix series. However,Kingdom Hearts 4also runs the risk of making the game feel like aStar Warsshowcase. The influence ofStar Warsis inescapable, but it needs to remain just a small thread of a larger fabric.
