Square Enix cancels Kingdom Hearts Missing-Link

Square Enix officially announced the cancellation of Kingdom Hearts Missing-Link, an action game with mechanics based on GPS, originally planned for iOS and Android. The title had been revealed in April 2022 and was supposed to be released in 2024, but after a closed prototype test in January 2023 and a postponement in November 2024, the project was definitively terminated.

According to the company, the decision was made after an internal assessment about the feasibility of maintaining a sustainable and quality service over time:

"Although we have dedicated ourselves to the development and adjustments of the game with the hope that it would be enjoyed by many players, we determined that it would be difficult to offer a satisfactory service for a long period of time, which led us to the decision to cancel the development."

The statement also includes an apology to the players who were awaiting the release and thanks to everyone who participated in the closed beta tests:

"We would like to take this opportunity to express our thanks to all who have supported us and provided assistance with the multiple closed beta tests. We are sorry to have to make this announcement."

The cancellation of Missing-Link follows a series of failed initiatives from Square Enix in the mobile market, which has already seen the premature closure of titles like Final Fantasy VII: The First Soldier and Echoes of Mana. The difficulty in maintaining engagement in games with continuous online structure has been a challenge for the company outside of traditional platforms.

Despite the negative news, Square Enix reaffirmed that the franchise remains active and is focused on the development of Kingdom Hearts IV:

"The Kingdom Hearts series will continue. We are working hard on Kingdom Hearts IV and hope you continue to support the franchise while waiting for more news."

Without a defined release window for Kingdom Hearts IV, fans now turn their attention to the franchise's upcoming announcements, which will complete 22 years in 2025 and continues as one of the most emblematic collaborations between Disney and Square Enix.