"Kingdom Hearts Missing-Link Cancelled, Square Enix Focuses on KH4"

In a surprising turn of events, Kingdom Hearts Missing-Link, the eagerly anticipated GPS-based action-RPG for mobile devices, has been officially cancelled by Square Enix. The game was set to explore the enchanting realm of Scala ad Caelum and deliver an original narrative centered around the ongoing battle against the Heartless, with a planned release in 2024.

The cancellation was announced through an unsigned statement on the game's X/Twitter account. Square Enix expressed their "heartfelt apologies to everyone who have been looking forward" to the game, citing the difficulty in providing a "service that players would find satisfactory over a long period of time" as the reason behind the decision. The statement did not provide specific details on the challenges faced during development.

"We wish to convey our heartfelt apologies to everyone who has been looking forward to the start of service," the statement read. "Although we worked hard on developing and adjusting the game in the hope that it would be enjoyed by lots of players, we determined that it would be difficult for us to offer a service that players would find satisfactory over a long period of time, leading us to the decision to cancel development."

Square Enix also took the opportunity to thank those who participated in the multiple closed beta tests and reiterated their regret for the cancellation. However, the statement concluded on a hopeful note for fans of the series, confirming that "the Kingdom Hearts series will continue," and revealed that the team is "hard at work on Kingdom Hearts 4," encouraging fans to stay tuned for further updates.

This is the first official update on Kingdom Hearts 4 in months, following a tiny, cryptic tease back in January. Despite being announced in September 2022 with a full cinematic trailer, Square Enix has maintained a low profile on the project, much to the anticipation and speculation of fans. In true Kingdom Hearts tradition, the silence has only heightened the community's eagerness for more information.

Kingdom Hearts series director Tetsuya Nomura has hinted that Kingdom Hearts 4 will mark a significant milestone in the franchise. After 22 years and 18 games, the narrative will finally begin to shift towards its conclusion, promising a pivotal chapter in the beloved series.