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Some franchises seem to move at their own pace, entirely untethered from calendars or expectations. Kingdom Hearts is clearly one of them. Now, a new rumor, shared by the generally reliable insider eXtas1s, is reigniting the fanbase’s collective imagination. This isn’t JUST about a release date for Kingdom Hearts 4, nor an imminent announcement, but rather a brand-new project of sorts.
A Kingdom Hearts remake may have leaked
According to the insider, Square Enix is reportedly planning no fewer than two major releases in 2027. On one hand, Kingdom Hearts 4, a title that has long seemed elusive. On the other, a full remake of the very first game, currently referred to unofficially as Kingdom Hearts Relux. Nothing is official, of course, and these claims should be taken with a grain of salt, though the source also leaked Dragon Quest 7 Remake back then. Still, the remake would likely excite longtime fans. Kingdom Hearts Relux isn’t said to be a simple HD remaster, it would be a full-fledged remake with new assets, modern lighting, and updated textures, all while preserving the colorful visual identity of the original 2002 game.
The aim isn’t to replicate the realistic style of Kingdom Hearts 3, but to deliver an idealized version of the first game as fans remember it. This approach is similar to what Crisis Core Reunion did for the PSP title or Dragon Quest Treasures for its franchise, both explicitly cited internally at Tose Software as visual reference points. The remake would reportedly be handled by this studio known for behind-the-scenes collaborations, while Square Enix’s main team focuses on Kingdom Hearts 4.
Even more intriguingly, the insider claims that this remake emerged from the remains of a canceled mobile project. Assets and environments that were already complete would have been repurposed to serve as the foundation for a more ambitious console release.
Two games in the same year?
In terms of content, the remake would largely stick to the original structure. Iconic worlds would remain, with some additions: a previously cut Disney world inspired by The Jungle Book would finally appear, Traverse Town would gain new areas, and, most excitingly, a long-requested fan feature would be implemented: Riku would become playable, with new sequences showing what he was doing during Sora’s journey.
Originally intended as a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive, KH Relux is now said to be part of Square Enix’s broader multiplatform strategy, shifting its release window to late 2026 or spring 2027. Kingdom Hearts 4 is reportedly targeting winter 2027. Two Kingdom Hearts games in the same year? It sounds improbable, but to celebrate the series’ 25th anniversary, Square Enix might just take that gamble if, of course, any of this is true.
Source: : eXtas1s
