Tetsuya Nomura Says Kingdom Hearts IV Will Not Be Delayed Beyond 2027
Square Enix is showing unusual confidence in the development schedule for Kingdom Hearts IV, with series director Tetsuya Nomura directly reassuring fans that the game will not slip beyond its currently announced late 2027 release window. Speaking during the Deep Dive into Kingdom Hearts panel at D23 2026, Nomura addressed speculation that the lengthy development cycle could eventually push the game into 2028, stating clearly that this will not happen. Co director Tai Yasue expressed the same confidence, explaining that development is progressing smoothly and that the team considers the 2027 schedule secure.
"That is not happening."
— Quote by: Tetsuya Nomura
Yasue went even further when discussing the development schedule, describing the team's confidence as 100% and promising that Kingdom Hearts IV will arrive during 2027. This follows Square Enix officially confirming the late 2027 release window during D23, alongside a new trailer revealing the Disney and Pixar Coco world, additional gameplay, Donald and Goofy, King Mickey, Quadratum, and the beginning of the game's broader marketing campaign.
"Schedule wise, development is very smooth. It is a 100% thing."
— Quote by: Tai Yasue
Nomura also explained that marketing for Kingdom Hearts IV has only recently started, meaning considerably more information should arrive as Square Enix moves closer to launch. The D23 presentation already revealed Coco as a major new world while showing Sora continuing his journey through Quadratum, Donald and Goofy searching for him, and King Mickey receiving his own playable sequences. Square Enix has confirmed the game for Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, with Steam and Epic Games Store releases planned.
Nomura also teased another world built from an idea the development team originally considered for Kingdom Hearts III but could not realize at the time. The concept has since evolved and will appear in Kingdom Hearts IV, with Nomura describing it as particularly impressive from the team's perspective without revealing its identity. D23 additionally introduced a Paper Mickey Mouse world where Mickey becomes playable inside a storybook inspired environment with mechanics including moving through cracks, transforming into an airplane, and solving puzzles.
Square Enix rarely gives this level of certainty around a major AAA release more than 1 year ahead of launch, making Nomura and Yasue's comments significant. Kingdom Hearts IV has been publicly known since 2022, but the combination of a confirmed late 2027 window, active marketing, substantial new gameplay, and development leadership openly guaranteeing the schedule suggests production is considerably further along than the years of silence may have implied.
The real question is no longer whether Kingdom Hearts IV will appear in 2027, but how aggressively Square Enix will expand the marketing campaign during the franchise's 25th anniversary year.
Does Nomura's confidence convince you that Kingdom Hearts IV will definitely launch in 2027, or are you still expecting Square Enix to move the release?
