'I Want to Set the Record Straight: That Is Not Happening' — Kingdom Hearts 4 Devs Say KH4 '100%' Will Not Be Delayed Past Late 2027 Launch | D23 2026

Kingdom Hearts 4 co-director Tai Yasue and series creator Tetsuya Nomura have assured fans that it is a "100% thing" the game will not be delayed past its late 2027 launch window.

While the team behind the new Kingdom Hearts game stopped short of sharing a final release date during its big D23 2026 presence, they feel pretty confident the current schedule will stick. Yasue, Nomura, and director of product development at Disney and Pixar games Nana Gadd doubled down on Square Enix's Kingdom Hearts 4 launch plans during a panel at this year's show.

"One last thing I wanted to share: We announced the game is going to be coming in late 2027," Nomura said. "I saw online that some people were saying the release date might still get pushed back. I want to set the record straight: That is not happening. I do hope that people do look forward to the game coming in 2027. A lot of the marketing for the game has only just started, and so I do hope that people also look forward to hearing more news as well."

"There's many things underway, many plans we have underway," he continued. "Now that we are approaching the 25th anniversary, we're thinking about what the 30th anniversary [looks like]."

"I can confidently say and promise that it will launch in 2027," Yasue said. "Schedule-wise, the development is very smooth. It's not like an 80%, 90% – it's a 100% thing. We'll be there in 2027 for sure."

The more skeptical fans believe they have some justification for their delay fears. Mainline entries in the series have suffered infamously long breaks between entries, with the break between Kingdom Hearts 2 and 3 being 13 years. We're now going on eight years since the last game's launch in 2019, but it sounds like the developers at Square Enix are confident the wait won't be too much longer.

Another reason fans are worried about a delay relates to the recent conversation surrounding physical game discs. Sony announced in July that it will no longer support physical releases for new PlayStation games that launch after January 2028. Should Kingdom Hearts 4 be delayed past that date, it would make it the first mainline entry in the series without a physical release, at least on PlayStation 5.

Kingdom Hearts 4 was formally announced in 2022 and will launch for PC, Nintendo Switch 2, PS5, and Xbox Series X | S in late 2027. While we wait to see what other Disney worlds and, hopefully, Final Fantasy characters the team have planned for the fourth games, you can read about the the extended gameplay trailer shown during the panel. You can also catch up on everything announced during the D23 panel right here.

Michael Cripe is a freelance writer with IGN. He's best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).

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Kingdom Hearts 4 Gets Extended Gameplay Trailer Featuring Playable Mickey, Donald, and Goofy | D23 2026

Disney and Square Enix showed up for the Deep Dive into Kingdom Hearts panel at D23 2026 to show off an extended gameplay trailer for Kingdom Hearts 4 that features a first look at a playable King Mickey, Donald, and Goofy.

No one expected Sora to show up in the world of Pixar's Coco, Keyblade in hand, when the legendary crossover franchise made a surprise appearance during yesterday's Disney Entertainment Showcase. That only made Mickey, Donald, and Goofy showing up as playable characters in today's new four-minute trailer even more of a shock.

Gameplay for Goofy and Donald seems to mostly fall in line with what we've come to expect from Sora. Outside of one segment that saw the two Disney icons sledding through the Underworld, they can can be seen using abilities and teaming up to fight off Heartless enemies.

King Mickey, meanwhile, has received some special attention. The first clip shows him walking around from a third-person point of view before switching to origami-like visuals featuring 2D and 3D gameplay. It looks heavily inspired by Nintendo's Paper Mario, though how long all of these sections will be remain to be seen.

Another surprise saved for today's lengthier look at the game is Riku, who shows up in the video's final moments. You can see the full extended Kingdom Hearts 4 gameplay trailer below. While we wait for updates, be sure to check out everything announced from the panel here.

Developing…

Michael Cripe is a freelance writer with IGN. He's best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).

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D23 Deep Dive Into Kingdom Hearts Panel: Everything Announced — Updating Live

D23, Disney's biggest fan convention, continues with a special panel all about Kingdom Hearts. IGN is on the ground bringing you the biggest news, reveals, and updates from the presentation as it kicks off today, August 15.

Titled ‘DEEP DIVE into KINGDOM HEARTS,’ this panel will stream live starting 4:30 PM PT / 7:30 PM ET / August 16 at 12:30 AM UK Time. You can watch it on IGN's own YouTube channel, which we will embed in this article for your convenience once the show gets started.

Disney said the panel will give fans a "behind-the-scenes look at the making of the games,” with insights from the "creative minds, character voices, and more behind the magic."

Guests on the panel include Nana Gadd, director of games at the Walt Disney Company's Japan branch, Tai Yasue from Square Enix, Haley Joel Osment, the voice of Sora, David Gallagher, the voice of Riku, and Renée Johnson, who is behind several Disney character voices.

This event follows gameplay footage shown at D23's Friday night showcase at the Honda Center the day prior, where fans got to see Sora battling the Heartless in Coco's Land of the Dead. A Kingdom Hearts animated series was also announced, which will stream on Disney+ on an as-yet unreleased date.

Follow along starting at 4:30 PM PT / 7:30 PM ET for all of the latest updates from what's shaping up to be one of the most highly-anticipated looks at Kingdom Hearts 4 and what's next for the series.

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Virginia (she/her) is IGN’s News Editor. With ten years of experience reporting on games and entertainment, she’s got a storied background in the fighting game community, influencer news, and viral online trends. Find her on Twitter at @TheeMissGlaze.

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The Best Deals Today: Project Hail Mary 4K Blu-ray, Resident Evil Requiem, AirPods Pro 3, and More

A new weekend has arrived, and today, you can save on Resident Evil Requiem, Project Hail Mary, Civilization VII, select LEGO sets, AirPods Pro 3, and more. Check out our top picks for Saturday, August 15, below.

Resident Evil Requiem for $53.99

Target has Resident Evil Requiem on sale this weekend for $53.99. If you've yet to play the latest RE game, this is a great time to do so. Grace Ashcroft and Leon S. Kennedy join forces to defeat a sinister new threat in a game that combines tense horror with brutal action combat. DLC is planned to be released in the future, so you can catch up now before the next story is out.

Project Hail Mary 4K Blu-ray for $24.95

Project Hail Mary was one of my favorite movies of the year, and today, you can take home the 4K Blu-ray for $24.95 at Amazon. Normally priced at $37.99, this is a very solid discount on a fun movie that looks absolutely gorgeous on any display, especially OLED. In our 8/10 review, we wrote, "Project Hail Mary is a rollicking sci-fi blockbuster celebrating how much we can accomplish when we work together… and how much meet-cute mileage you can get out of watching Ryan Gosling befriend a rock alien for two and a half hours."

Civilization VII for $19.99

Amazon has Civilization VII on sale for $19.99 this weekend, saving you $20 off a physical copy. In our 7/10 review, we wrote, "Civilization 7's improved warfare and added bits of narrative flair give me reasons to keep clicking one more turn late into the night, but the desire to streamline and simplify this legendary 4X series feels like it has also gone a bit too far, particularly when it comes to the interface."

Cyberpunk: Edgerunners Blu-ray Back in Stock

Crunchyroll has the Crunchyroll Store-exclusive Cyberpunk: Edgerunners Blu-ray back in stock after disappearing for some time recently. In case you missed it, Crunchyroll is delisting hundreds of Blu-rays from its site as it plans to transition its store to be exclusive for members only. If you have not picked up Cyberpunk: Edgerunners or any of the (remaining) Aniplex Blu-rays, I would do so as fast as possible, as there is no guarantee these will be in print for much longer.

AirPods Pro 3 for $189

AirPods Pro 3 are a fantastic upgrade over the 2nd generation, bringing a built-in heart rate sensor, redesigned eartips for better noise cancellation, and improved sound quality. Right now, you can score a pair for only $189 at Amazon. I've had a pair since launch and have been incredibly happy with them, especially coming from the original AirPods Pro.

Back to the Future LEGO Set for $159.99

Back to the Future is one of the best sci-fi films ever, and the iconic DeLorean time machine is a huge part of the film's legacy today. If you're a fan of the BTTF trilogy, look no further than this LEGO Icons Time Machine set, featuring the DeLorean with parts for each movie, minifigures for Doc Brown and Marty McFly, and accessories like the hoverboard. You can save $40 this weekend on this set, which saves you 20% off MSRP.

Save 50% Off Rosalina's Storybook

As part of the Super Mario 40th Anniversary, Nintendo released a physical version of Rosalina's storybook. You can save 50% off this collectible at Amazon this weekend, as copies are available for only $12.49.

Pre-Order Spider-Man: Brand New Day on 4K Blu-ray

Spider-Man: Brand New Day is the most popular movie of the Summer, with the film on track to easily become the highest grossing of the year so far. Pre-orders for the physical copies, including Steelbooks, have already gone live at retailers like Walmart, so now is the time to lock in your copy before they are sold out.

Fate Return to Avalon: Takashi Takeuchi Art Works for $40.42

Takashi Takeuchi has one of the most recongnizable art styles for good reason. The legendary artist pioneered Type-Moon's art for franchises like Fate and Tsukihime. Right now, you can pick up this fantastic hardcover collection of Takeuchi's Fate artwork for $40.42 at Amazon. Almost 300 pages are included, featuring art from games, promotional material, limited events, and much more. It's perfect for any Fate fan.

Lego Batman Forever Set for $74.99

The classic Batmobile from Batman Forever is here in Lego form, with a Lego DC Batman minifugure starring the suit used in the move. This weekend, you can save 25% off this 909-piece set, which is a great addition to any comic book fan's collection. The cockpit on the Batmobile opens up to reveal seats and a detailed interior, and you can easily put this vehicle on any shelf or table.

LEGO Marvel Iron Spider-Man Bust for $47.99

This weekend, you can save 20% off the LEGO Marvel Iron Spider-Man Bust set at Walmart. This set features both a buildable bust for the Iron Spider and a minifig, so you can use the web-slinging hero in any set you'd like.

Noah Hunter is a freelance writer and reviewer with a passion for games and technology. He co-founded Final Weapon, an outlet focused on nonsense-free Japanese gaming (in 2019) and has contributed to various publishers writing about the medium.

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Project Revenant, a Unique Precision-Aiming 2D Sidescroller, Announces Public Playtest

Korea-based developer Mayfly is developing Project Revenant, a unique 2D sidescrolling action game for PC where you'll need to use your mouse to specifically target enemies in order to hit them. No spray-and-pray here! Watch the new trailer above and check out almost two dozen gameplay screenshots in the gallery below.

"This is not a game where you can spray bullets and hope for the best," the developers said. "To survive, you must master the unique combat system known as 'Precision Aiming,' where only enemies directly under your cursor will take damage. This is not a game where you can spray bullets and hope for the best. You’ll need to carefully analyze each enemy’s position and attack pattern, then strike with accuracy. Headshot an enemy to take them out instantly, shoot down a chandelier to crush enemies beneath it, or ignite an explosive barrel to wipe out a group of foes. Every encounter is a tactical decision."

Project Revenant promises unique gameplay twists on every stage, unique bosses, a wide variety of enemies such as cyborg ninjas, giant robots, and bounty hunters, and varied environments. Check it out for yourself in the playtest beginning on August 26 on Steam.

Ryan McCaffrey is IGN's executive editor of previews and host of IGN's weekly Xbox show, Podcast Unlocked, and a co-host of Next-Gen Console Watch. He's a North Jersey guy, so it's "Taylor ham," not "pork roll." Debate it with him on Twitter at @DMC_Ryan.

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Game of Thrones: War for Westeros Gameplay Reveal Shows Lannister Troops Getting Cooked by a Fire-Breathing Dragon, With a Longer Look Due Later This Month

Here's a first look at gameplay footage from Game of Thrones: War for Westeros, the upcoming real-time strategy title that lets you conqueror the Seven Kingdoms on your own terms.

Want a different ending to Game of Thrones? You're not alone, and happily you don't need to be when playing War for Westeros either — as you can capture the Iron Throne solo with a different or against others in multiplayer.

Today's glimpse shows a horde of soldiers dressed in red and holding Lannister banners, charging forward into battle. But oh, what's this? A gigantic shadow of a dragon flying overhead? I wonder what will happen next! Ah well, it is barbecue season.

Previous teases have confirmed that many of the characters and houses you'd expect will be included in the game, including Jon Snow and the armies of House Stark, Jamie Lannister and his forces, Daenerys and her dragons, and even the Night King.

Last month, Game of Thrones: War for Westeros developer PlaySide Studios pushed back the game's release window from 2026 into early 2027, explaining that the extra breathing room "gives us the time needed to continue building towards that goal and ensure that the game reaches the high level of quality we are aiming for."

"We remain unwavering in our mission to deliver a real-time strategy game set in the world of Westeros that meets the expectations of both RTS players and Game of Thrones fans," PlaySide added. "Thank you for your patience and continued support. We know the wait has been long, and we do not take your support for granted."

Today's brief but flame-grilled taste is really just designed to highlight a fuller gameplay reveal coming on August 25, as part of Gamescom Opening Night Live. Tune in then to see much more of the game, and as ever, IGN will be reporting from the event as it happens.

Tom Phillips is IGN's News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social

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Xbox Reveals Stunning 3D-Moulded Gears of War: E-Day Limited Edition Controllers

Microsoft has announced a pair of highly-detailed Gears of War: E-Day Limited Edition 3D-moulded Xbox controllers, which look just as gruff and grizzled as you'd expect.

The offering is headlined by the Gears of War: E-Day Limited Edition, which features charred black 3D-sculpted grips and blood-red core. Then there's the Gears of War: E-Day Limited Edition with Xbox Design Lab, which features a silver skull and two crossed Chainsaw Lancers that you can customize further.

Expect to pay $89.99 / £84.99 / €89.99 for the main Gears of War: E-Day Limited Edition controller — exactly the same price as the previous limited edition Forza Horizon 6 controller — with pre-orders going live now ahead of its official launch on September 30. The Design Lab controller, meanwhile, will be available on September 30.

As with any modern Xbox controller, you can use these pads on Xbox Series X/S, Windows 10/11 PCs, mobile phones and tablets. Oh, and Xbox One.

A Gears of War: E-Day 8BitDo Ultimate Charging Dock for Xbox controllers will also be available, compatible with Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S controllers. The dock features magnetic alignment for easy placement, drop-and-charge functionality, and built-in protection against overcharging and overheating.

As for Gears of War: E-Day itself, the alien-stomping shooter is out October 6 for PC and Xbox Series X/S and confirmed to be a console exclusive, meaning it will never launch on PlayStation. An open beta is currently available, though some players are being put off by some classic sweaty Gears movement.

"The tried-and-true Gears gameplay with my usual combo of Gnasher and Longshot works as well as I've always remembered," IGN wrote in our recent Gears of War: E-Day multiplayer hands-on preview. "And tossing a frag into a Locust hole to nip the wave in the bud is as satisfying as it's always been."

Tom Phillips is IGN's News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social

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