Kingdom Hearts 4 Gets a 2027 Release Window, Namura Promises No Delays

The biggest news out of D23 this weekend was a Kingdom Hearts blowout that finally gave fans a concrete release window for the fourth mainline entry, alongside an anime series announcement and a surprising promise from series creator Tetsuya Nomura that the game won't slip. But the weekend also brought news on PlayStation 6 timing, a potential Simpsons Hit & Run revival, and a massive Fortnite gaming crossover season—all of which made for a packed news cycle.

Kingdom Hearts Takes Center Stage at D23

Disney used its D23 entertainment showcase to confirm that Kingdom Hearts 4 will launch in late 2027, and the presentation included a world reveal based on Pixar's Coco. The trailer shown during the main showcase looked strikingly close to the film's visual quality—side-by-side comparisons show almost no gap between the game and the movie. During a deeper dive panel, extended footage showed Donald, Goofy, and Mickey in their Coco-themed forms, plus a sequence where the trio literally visits Hades in Hell to figure out how to reach Sora. The panel also built to a reveal of Riku returning, which host Tim Gettys called "pitch perfect" for longtime fans.