Kingdom Hearts IV: Nomura Rules Out Any Delay to the 2027 Release
Credit: Crédit : Square Enix

Kingdom Hearts IV: Nomura Rules Out Any Delay to the 2027 Release

Fabian Fabian Lainé
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In brief

Tetsuya Nomura insists that Kingdom Hearts IV will indeed release in 2027 with no delay. Speaking to Famitsu after the D23 panel, the director broke down the game's progress: Japanese voice recording finished, English at 60-70%, and a script twice as large as Kingdom Hearts III's.

Asked by Famitsu on August 27, series director Tetsuya Nomura stated that Kingdom Hearts IV's release window will not be pushed back. For a game announced in April 2022 and left without any timeline for more than four years, the statement matters.

The interview followed the D23 panel where Square Enix finally gave a window. Nomura puts forward a concrete argument: internal deadlines are set well ahead of release, "beyond the level of a simple margin." Co-director Tai Yasue adds that development is progressing more steadily than on any previous installment.

Japanese Dubbing Complete, English Two-Thirds Done

The two men give figures on progress. The Japanese voices are fully recorded, says Nomura; the English dub is 60 to 70% complete, Yasue specifies. The script is a little less than double the length of Kingdom Hearts III's, hence a very tight recording schedule.

The shortcut would be to conclude that the game is nearly finished: Nomura is talking about recorded text, not playable content.

A masked, dark-haired character stands at the edge of an avenue, in front of cars, buses and a pedestrian footbridge in a modern metropolis
Quadratum, the modern metropolis where Sora wakes up. Credit: Square Enix

A Franchise Dragging Some Baggage

Caution remains warranted: Kingdom Hearts III, announced in 2013, wasn't released until January 2019. This time, the commitment is public and repeated: at D23, Nomura had already said he wanted to release the game in 2027 for certain, and Yasue promised "no delay, 100%."

One ambiguity remains: Square Enix's August 15 press release announces a late 2027 release, while the Steam page simply states "2027." Until then, little news is expected: Nomura is skipping the Tokyo Game Show in September and warns that the next batch of information will be a while coming.

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Do you trust Nomura on Kingdom Hearts IV's 2027 release?

Frequently asked questions

Will Kingdom Hearts IV really launch in 2027, or is there a risk of delay?
Nomura states it categorically: internal deadlines are set well ahead of the official release date, not just as a slim margin. It's a firm promise, even though the franchise has a loaded track record (Kingdom Hearts III was announced in 2013 and released in 2019).
How far along is the game right now?
The Japanese voices are fully recorded, with English at 60-70%. Note that this concerns the voice recording, not the playable content. The script represents substantial work, but the rest of development remains less clear publicly.
Why is Kingdom Hearts IV's script so massive?
It's roughly twice the size of Kingdom Hearts III's. Hence the extremely compressed recording schedule and the need for careful planning to hit the deadlines.
When will we get the next info on the game?
Nomura warns that the next wave of information will take a while. There will be nothing at September's Tokyo Game Show, so patience is required.

Key takeaways

  • Nomura formally promises a 2027 release, with internal deadlines set well beyond a simple buffer.
  • Japanese voice recording is wrapped up, with English well underway at 60-70% completion.
  • The script is twice the size of Kingdom Hearts III's, which explains the extremely tight recording schedule.
  • The developers say progress is more consistent than on any previous entry.
  • No major news for a while: Nomura is skipping September's Tokyo Game Show.

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