Kingdom Hearts IV Just Leaked Again; It's Bigger Than Anyone Expected

In the often-silent realm of Kingdom Hearts IV development, a new spark has reignited speculation—this time from a now-deleted social media post that could point to significant progress behind the scenes. The update stems from voice actor Zack Pogress, who briefly shared via X (formerly Twitter) that he has been involved in voice recording for a major RPG project at Square Enix over the past year. One of the projects mentioned in his post: Kingdom Hearts IV.

While the post has since been deleted—suggesting it may have bypassed internal PR protocols or contractual NDAs—its brief appearance was enough to set the community ablaze with curiosity. Zack stated that he's been involved in several "high-quality projects" and working with "studio rosters that most people would dream of," even without agency representation. Kingdom Hearts IV was explicitly named as one of those projects, giving fans a rare breadcrumb in an otherwise quiet development cycle.

It's worth noting that while his statement confirms involvement in the game's production, he did not disclose which character he is voicing. Whether he's attached to a returning franchise staple or a new face in the ever-expanding Kingdom Hearts universe remains to be seen. But voiceover recording, especially when sustained over a year, signals that narrative content is steadily progressing—an essential phase of game development that often aligns with late-stage cinematic design, character modeling, and animation syncing.

The significance of this update is amplified by the rarity of new information regarding Kingdom Hearts IV. Since its official reveal in April 2022 during the Kingdom Hearts 20th Anniversary celebration, confirmed details have been limited. Square Enix posted a single teaser trailer that showed Sora in a photorealistic world called Quadratum. This hinted at a darker, more realistic story tone and a change from the series' usual Disney-themed look. After that, there haven't been many reports.

As for when Kingdom Hearts IV might arrive, that remains the biggest question mark. With Square Enix still wrapping up development on the final installment of the Final Fantasy VII Remake trilogy—Final Fantasy VII Rebirth launched in early 2024, with the third entry likely targeting 2026—some analysts and insiders believe Kingdom Hearts IV may not debut until late 2027 or beyond.

Complicating matters is the unique corporate relationship between Square Enix and Disney. Even though Square Enix is in charge of creation, Disney still has a lot of power over how its intellectual property is used. In the past, this partnership has meant more oversight and strategic coordination, which has often caused output schedules to be pushed back. Disney's involvement is integral to the Kingdom Hearts identity, but it also means that content approvals, character licensing, and narrative direction must align with both creative and brand guidelines from two powerhouse studios—each with its own pace and priorities.

This new voice actor update, while brief and unofficial, adds to a growing sentiment that work is progressing more actively than fans may realize. In a world where AAA game development cycles regularly stretch past five years, knowing that dialogue is being recorded suggests the project may be closer to its vertical slice or internal milestone demos. By this point in the process, most industry standards for gameplay systems, story pace, and significant cinematic beats have been met.

Rest assured, expectations should be kept in check. The nature of Kingdom Hearts IV's reveal trailer, which displayed "early development footage," and the complete lack of follow-up gameplay or press material reinforce the notion that the project is not yet ready for public hands-on showcases or extended demos. 

Square Enix and Disney, both known for playing the long game with their flagship IPs, will likely roll out updates strategically—potentially tied to milestone events like the Tokyo Game Show, Disney D23, or a dedicated Kingdom Hearts Direct-style presentation.

Looking ahead, 2026 is the franchise's 30th anniversary. Given the significance of that milestone, many speculate that Square Enix may be building toward a major reveal event tied to the occasion. That timeline would align with a potential 2027 or 2028 release window for Kingdom Hearts IV, giving the development team ample time to polish systems, finalize new gameplay mechanics, and bring a new generation of players into Sora's next chapter.

Until then, this small—but meaningful—confirmation from inside the recording booth is enough to keep the excitement alive. As Square Enix and Disney continue shaping the next evolution of Kingdom Hearts, fans can take comfort in knowing that development is very much underway.

Stay tuned. The next heart-pounding chapter may arrive sooner than expected.