Here’s 6Kingdom Hearts 4 worlds I think we’ll see following Coco’s official D23 reveal — including the one Tetsuya Nomura has ‘always’ wanted to include

Over the weekend, we were treated to Disney’s annual D23 showcase , and while many will be soaking up the major Marvel Cinematic Universe reveals (including the X-Men cast announcement), I was far more interested in the brand-new Kingdom Hearts 4 trailer.

<![CDATA[ <article> <p>Over the weekend, we were treated to <a href="https://www.techradar.com/streaming/entertainment/disney-parks-d23-keynote-was-packed-heres-everything-new-coming-to-disney-world-and-disneyland-including-piston-peak-avengers-campus-and-villains-land" target="_blank">Disney’s annual D23 showcase</a>, and while many will be soaking up the major Marvel Cinematic Universe reveals (including the <em>X-Men</em> cast announcement), I was far more interested in the brand-new <em>Kingdom Hearts 4</em> trailer.</p><div class="youtube-video" data-nosnippet ><div class="video-aspect-box"><iframe data-lazy-priority="high" data-lazy-src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/lybMpYeO9L8" allowfullscreen></iframe></div></div><p>Not only was the Late 2027 release date set in stone, but it revealed the arrival of <em>Coco</em> to the series and gave us plenty of juicy details about the wider story while still keeping plenty a secret — such as which other worlds we’ll be visiting.</p><p>However, I’ve gone through every detail of the trailers we have so far, as well as comments made by series creator Tetsuya Nomura during a D23 Kingdom Hearts Deep Dive panel, to pick out six worlds I believe are shoo-ins for <em>Kingdom Hearts 4</em>.</p><p>Think I’m right or completely disagree? Vote in my poll at the bottom of the page, or comment below which world you most want to see when <em>Kingdom Hearts 4 </em>releases next year.</p><h2 id="1-onward">1. Onward</h2><figure class="van-image-figure inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:1600px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.25%;"><img id="8PTmPdrERY6FRWepALmsWn" name="Onward - Oltre la magia.jpg" alt="Onward - Oltre la magia" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8PTmPdrERY6FRWepALmsWn.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="1600" height="900" attribution="" endorsement="" class="inline"></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Onward - Oltre la magia)</span></figcaption></figure><p>Based on <em>Coco</em>’s inclusion and the plot details trailers have revealed so far,<em> </em>it is seemingly safe to assume that several <em>Kingdom</em> <em>Hearts 4</em> worlds will have an afterlife or otherworldly theme. We also know that Donald and Goofy are on a quest to find and contact Sora — and a Disney Pixar film that combines both of these ideas is <em>Onward</em>.</p><p>The 2020 animated adventure follows brothers Ian and Barley Lightfoot (played by Tom Holland and Chris Pratt, respectively) as they set out on a mission to cast a visitation spell so they can speak to their deceased father one last time. A quest I’m sure Sora’s friends would want to join to talk to their lost friend.</p><p>It’s a fantastical setting with plenty of space for magic and combat to suit <em>Kingdom</em> <em>Hearts’ </em>gameplay, and based on its story alone, it makes perfect sense as a world for Sora’s friends to visit. Its release date would also fit well within KH4’s development timeline, which leads me to believe we’ll see <em>Onward</em> as a world in the next game.</p><h2 id="2-star-wars">2. Star Wars</h2><figure class="van-image-figure inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:1920px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.25%;"><img id="hUoAod7j8DjLzqb9HTgmsT" name="luke-skywalker-return-of-the-jedi" alt="Luke Skywalker grimacing as he holds his green lightsaber in Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hUoAod7j8DjLzqb9HTgmsT.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="1920" height="1080" attribution="" endorsement="" class="inline"></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Lucasfilm)</span></figcaption></figure><p>According to fans, <em>Star Wars</em> has already been revealed in <em>Kingdom Hearts 4’s</em> very first teaser trailer. A forest scene looks exactly like <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/KingdomHearts/comments/ucu6aw/this_essentially_confirms_that_the_forest_moon_of/">a view from the forest moon of Endor</a>, and there’s also an object that looks <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/KingdomHearts/comments/u0n9e8/another_thread_about_the_apparent_atst_foot_in/">distinctly like an AT-ST foot</a> at the edge of a shot. In the most recent trailer, Donald and Goofy are also briefly seen as blue projections that look a lot <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/KingdomHearts/comments/1vp1t4k/force_ghosts/">like Force ghosts</a><strong>.</strong></p><p>I don’t think any more confirmation is needed, frankly. My question is, how does this world fit into <em>Kingdom Hearts 4</em>? Besides just being a cool inclusion fans have been begging for since Disney bought the franchise, that is. Well, I have two theories.</p><p>Perhaps after failing to bring Sora to them in <em>Onward</em>’s world, his friends instead try to reach out to him using the help of someone like Luke Skywalker or Yoda to project a manifestation of themselves to wherever their friend is.</p><p>Alternatively, perhaps knowing that Sora is stuck in Unreality — a realm beyond the regular universe — his friends may try venturing in the Gummi Ship far beyond anywhere they have traveled before; i.e., to a galaxy far, far away</p><p>Regardless of the reason why it appears, I think many safely assume Star Wars will feature in <em>Kingdom Hearts</em>, and I’ll be certain they’re on the money until I’m proven otherwise.</p><h2 id="3-moana">3. Moana</h2><figure class="van-image-figure inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:1920px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.25%;"><img id="h768QP7sxPkuHhwYTkdewe" name="Moana-2_Disney-Plus" alt="An animated girl holds up a paddle with a whale behind her" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/h768QP7sxPkuHhwYTkdewe.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="1920" height="1080" attribution="" endorsement="" class="inline"></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Disney )</span></figcaption></figure><p>There’s one other teaser <a href="https://www.resetera.com/threads/kh4-elemental-or-moana.1546957/">fans have spotted</a> in previous <em>Kingdom Hearts 4</em> trailers, but the community is divided over whether it’s for <em>Moana</em> or <em>Elemental</em>. That’s because all we’ve seen is a Keyblade design blending fire/lava and water, which could fit with either of these stories.</p><p>I was <a href="https://www.techradar.com/gaming/nintendo-switch/kingdom-hearts-4-trailer-teases-hercules-and-elemental-worlds-but-i-wish-it-had-included-a-release-date">previously on the <em>Elemental </em>side of the aisle</a>, but I’m changing my tune. Admittedly, my actual belief is we’ll see both, but if it must be either/or, I’m now leaning towards <em>Moana</em>.</p><p>The driving factor is the theme of the underworld/afterlife. While one character does seemingly sacrifice themself in <em>Elemental</em> the afterlife isn’t a core part of the movie — but in <em>Moana</em> we do visit the underworld in the form of Lalotai.</p><p>It’s more a realm of monsters than a place of the undead, but it still makes sense as a place for Sora’s friends to look to find him, and the neon underwater fluorescence would be a beautiful environment to explore with interesting, unique Heartless designs to battle against.</p><p>Tamatoa would also be the perfect final boss.</p><p>Admittedly this theory butts up against the keyblade’s design as it would maybe look more like treasure from Tamatoa’s horde than of the fiery aspect of Te Fiti -– Te Kā — creating havoc for the watery world above, but as I said before I believe we’ll see both <em>Elemental </em>and <em>Moana</em>; <em>Moana</em> for its underworld, and <em>Elemental</em> as a palette cleanser that suits <em>KH’s </em>wider themes but isn’t directly associated with the otherworldliness we’re assuming will be present in most worlds.</p><figure class="van-image-figure inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:1920px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.25%;"><img id="5jqRYFaRcc6fqfLZJdBkVL" name="Elemental Pixar.jpg" alt="Wade and Ember smile at each other Pixar's Elemental movie" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/5jqRYFaRcc6fqfLZJdBkVL.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="1920" height="1080" attribution="" endorsement="" class="inline"></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Pixar/Disney)</span></figcaption></figure><h2 id="4-bambi">4. Bambi</h2><p>During D23’s Kingdom Hearts panel, series creator Tetsuya Nomura let slip that another <em>Kingdom Hearts 4 </em>world will be one <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/KingdomHearts/comments/1vq402m/small_summary_of_kh_panel_information/" target="_blank">he has always wanted to include</a>. In fact, it was almost in <em>Kingdom Hearts 3</em> but was cut because of development issues.</p><p>Now, the internet has pointed to <em>Cars</em> as this secret world. <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/KingdomHearts/comments/1f0y8x0/the_kingdom_hearts_3_premium_showcase_recently/"><em>KH3 </em>leaks</a> from a few years ago seem to prove the Pixar franchise was in consideration for long enough to be referenced in a demo version of the game. </p><p>However, despite this evidence, I have a different pick based on Nomura’s “always” comment — if taken literally, it would need to be a Disney franchise older than 2002 (when <em>KH1 was released</em>), which 2006’s Cars isn’t. </p><p>But <em>Bambi</em> is.</p><figure class="van-image-figure inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:2400px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.25%;"><img id="MmqzJ87Unv9aGhcM7aFyHG" name="bambi.jpg" alt="Bambi" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/MmqzJ87Unv9aGhcM7aFyHG.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="2400" height="1350" attribution="" endorsement="" class="inline"></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Disney)</span></figcaption></figure><p>Besides its age, <em>Bambi</em> ticks a few boxes that make it a prime candidate for inclusion in the series, <em>KH4</em> specifically. It’s a story about friendship (a core <em>Kingdom Hearts</em> theme), but also the loss of loved ones, which is a key aspect in this next installment of the Disney meets Square Enix franchise.</p><p>Bambi has also appeared in <em>Kingdom Hearts </em>before: as a Summon in the very first game. Clearly, the source material was on Nomura’s mind during development of the first title.</p><p>It’s also one of only two of those Summons to never appear again in <em>Kingdom Hearts</em> (ignoring remakes and <em>Chain of Memories</em>, which has you re-experience the first game’s events). All the others have since appeared in their own <em>KH</em> world except for Bambi and Dumbo — who may be tricky to add given his story’s reliance on racist stereotypes.</p><p>Given the other part of Nomura’s statement, a <em>Bambi</em> setting would also likely cause development issues. The team would need to create forest animal models for Sora (and his companions) to don in this space — and work out how Sora’s critter form would wield a Keyblade.</p><p>In the same panel, Nomura apparently said he likes to try and include curveball picks in his games, starting with <em>The Nightmare Before Christmas</em> all the way back in <em>KH1</em>. Perhaps I’m merely high on my own supply, but I don't think anything would be more of a curveball than this.</p><h2 id="5-wreck-it-ralph">5. Wreck-it Ralph</h2><figure class="van-image-figure inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:1024px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.25%;"><img id="9n5AQxCuR3YuFwsFFS4xmj" name="Wreck-It-Ralph.jpg" alt="Wreck-it-Ralph characters walking forwards" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/887d412ebe33bf617c3ccd348abc0b99.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="1024" height="576" attribution="" endorsement="" class="inline"></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Disney)</span></figcaption></figure><p>Rounding things off with two picks that are a little more sensible, I suspect we’ll see <em>Wreck-It Ralph</em> in <em>Kingdom Hearts 4</em> — specifically <em>Ralph Breaks the Internet</em>.</p><p>This Disney series has appeared in <em>Kingdom Hearts</em> twice before, once as a Summon in <em>Kingdom Hearts 3</em>, and as a collection of worlds visitable in the mobile spin-off title <em>Unchained-X</em>. So a more full-on inclusion in a mainline entry would fit.</p><p>My belief, however, mostly centers on Yozora: a video game character we see in Verum Rex in the <em>Toy Story</em> world who also appears in <em>KH3</em>’s DLC as a boss you fight in Quadratum — the otherworldly space Sora now finds himself trapped in. The <em>Kingdom Hearts</em> series has played with the idea of digital worlds before, and so perhaps Verum Rex contains a digital version of Quadratum. </p><p><em>Wreck-It Ralph</em> comes in as the series sees its characters hopping between digital worlds, and could perhaps be a way for Sora’s friends to either find an original ‘true’ copy of Verum Rex, or to somehow locate the real world it is based on. I feel this idea fits better with the internet-hopping second movie, which has its characters hunting down a game as I’ve pitched, and we’ve already seen the first movie recreated in <em>Kingdom Hearts</em> (even if it was via a spin-off).</p><h2 id="6-the-princess-and-the-frog">6. The Princess and the Frog</h2><figure class="van-image-figure inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:1980px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.26%;"><img id="MgvuZUuff37PokULFqKEmN" name="tiana.jpg" alt="Princess Tiana holding a frog in her hand and smiling in The Princess and the Frog." src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/MgvuZUuff37PokULFqKEmN.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="1980" height="1114" attribution="" endorsement="" class="inline"></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Disney)</span></figcaption></figure><p>Lastly, I think we’ll visit New Orleans from <em>The Princess and the Frog</em>. </p><p>The <em>Kingdom Hearts</em> franchise puts special emphasis on Disney’s princesses as so-called Princesses of Heart, and Tiana is a notable example we have yet to see represented in the series. Though my belief yet again comes down to how Sora’s allies need help contacting a friend on the other side, something this movie’s antagonist, Dr. Facilier, is an expert in. </p><p>His use of the power of darkness, even being called the Shadow Man in the movie itself, also feels so superbly <em>Kingdom Hearts</em> that I’m surprised Facillier has yet to feature in the game series — and if <em>Kingdom Hearts 4</em> sees us playing more as characters other than Sora (which the trailer suggests) this land could be one that’s perfect for Riku to visit given his history.</p><p>I’d also love to see Riku’s reaction to being turned into a frog, or some other Bayou critter, and needing to battle swampy Heartless after a deal he makes with Facillier goes wrong.</p><p>So am I on the money or trapped in the Realm of Sleep? Vote in my poll, or comment below which world you think is most likely to appear in <em>Kingdom Hearts 4</em>.</p><div style="min-height: 250px;"> <div class="kwizly-quiz kwizly-ONq31W"></div> </div> <script src="https://kwizly.com/embed/ONq31W.js" async></script> </article> ]]>