As the wait finally ended, andKingdom Hearts 3came and went, fans didn’t exactly get a nicely wrapped up ending. Any hardcore fan knows that the overarchingKingdom Heartsstory always has something else up its sleeve to make the narrative and worlds even more convoluted, to varying degrees of success. WhileKingdom Hearts 3marked the ending of Xehanort’s Dark Seeker Saga, Sora’s story continues beyond in what will ultimately lead toKingdom Hearts 4.
Thanks to the secret ending(s) ofKingdom Hearts 3, coupled with the plot points inKingdom Hearts 3 ReMindandKingdom Hearts Union Crosscrossover, there are still elements of theKingdom Heartsstory finally coming together. Whatever the next mainlineKingdom Heartsproject is, whether it’sKingdom Hearts 4or a mainline-adjacent game likeDream Drop Distance, the game will likely feature plenty of familiar and new ideas. Those hoping for a less confusing storyline with the ending of Xehanort’s saga are probably in for a rude awakening.
Yozora and Final Fantasy Versus 13
There’s plenty of new elements coming into theKingdom Heartsstoryline with the beginning of a new saga. For fans, that’s obviously Yozora and his role in the newKingdom Heartscanon. He brings with himself not only a new and unexpected story, but also an entirely new world, a potentially strange connection to Organization XIII, and an avenue for the reveal of the Master of Masters. Originally, Yozora was depicted in theToy Storyworld as just another toy and reference toFinal Fantasy Versus 13, but it seems his world holds far more importance than that. Several are theorizing Yozora’s world is a way toreinventFinal Fantasy Versus 13as aKingdom Heartsstorylineinstead.
Other than that, Yozora’s world could be an avenue to host a completely new focus onFinal Fantasycharacters inKingdom Hearts. While initiallythe decision to keepFinal Fantasycharacters out ofKingdom Hearts 3was contentious, game director Tetsuya Nomura had felt the story and fanbase had grown out from usingFinal Fantasycharacters. Eventually they did return partially inReMind, but there is a possibility they could return in the nextKingdom Heartsgame. Some have even theorized that Yozora is actually a fake representation of Noctis and the world ofFinal Fantasy 15, bringing the previousVersus 13theory full-circle.
RELATED:Final Fantasy Versus 13 Had a Profound Impact on Kingdom Hearts, FF7 Remake, and More
Introducing Union Cross Canon to Mainline Kingdom Hearts
That being said, there’s still plenty of existingKingdom Heartscanon making its return in the next entry.All of the niche plot elements fromUnion Crossare almost certainly injecting themselves in the nextKingdom Heartssaga. That much is made clear inKingdom Hearts 3’s secret ending, where Xigbar (aka “Braig,” or “Luxu”) greets the Foretellers alongside the mysterious Black Box. The Foretellers, Luxu, the Book of Prophecies, and the Master of Masters have now entered the mainlineKingdom Heartscanon. Frankly, for anyKingdom Heartsfans who aren’t in the know, this is only going to make the story just as convoluted as it was previously.
Outside of the overarchingKingdom Heartsstory, there’s likely going to be a lot of familiar elements returning as well. Other than the obvious nods like Sora still being alive and the protagonist of the story, it’s very possible Sora and Riku have entered anotherDream Drop Distancescenario. Based onKingdom Hearts 3andReMind’s endings, Sora’s traveled back to Shibuya several times in pursuit of Yozora, while Riku explores the world of Verum Rex. There’s alsothe likelihood that several Disney worlds will return, likeFrozen 2orPirates of the Caribbean, that still have explorable Disney stories.
Unfortunately, it’s going to be a while until fans learn more about the upcomingKingdom Heartsproject. There’sa 2022 release planned forKingdom Hearts' 20th anniversary, but Square Enix or the development team hasn’t shared any more information other than that. However, based on what’s being teased, there’s going to be a whole lot of new and returning elements toKingdom Heartsthat will be just as endearing and convoluted as before.
