Summary
Kingdom Hearts 4is the highly anticipated next chapter in the long-running franchise by Square Enix. Mixing elements ofFinal Fantasyand Disney icons,Kingdom Hearts 4is set to be one of the biggest releases in the series yet. With over 20 years of games in its history,Kingdom Hearts 4will continue a long legacy, but there may be a surprising way to include Nintendo this time around.
Kingdom Heartsis known for featuring characters and details from major Disney franchises, but an unexpected crossover involvingKingdom Heartsand Nintendo could have major implications for the upcoming fourth game. Back in 2021,Super Smash Bros. Ultimatesurprised many players by makingKingdom Heartsprotagonist Sorathe final character added to the game. With Sora being part of a game that is heavily tied to Disney, adding the character to a non-Disney property seemed impossible, but NIntendo made it happen.
Sora’s Nintendo Feature Could Influence Kingdom Hearts 4
Due to the nature ofKingdom Hearts, it’s a given that the next game will feature plenty of new Disney-themed cameos. There is plenty of speculation about what new franchises willmake an appearance inKingdom Hearts 4, but there is now a chance for the game to completely surprise fans by referencing Nintendo in some way.
Kingdom Hearts 4 Returning The Favor
Thanks toSuper Smash Bros. Ultimatethrowing Sora into the game’s already impressive roster, it’s now time forKingdom Hearts 4to return the favor. Adding Sora toSuper Smash Bros. Ultimatewas proof that Disney can be at least a little bit flexible with their properties. Being able to includeSora in a Nintendo propertywas a major win for the company and its brawler title, and it only makes sense that Nintendo could possibly get the same treatment from Disney.
Thanks to this collaboration between Disney and Nintendo, seeing small references or cameos from Nintendo characters inKingdom Hearts 4is no longer outside the realm of possibility.Cameos inKingdom Heartshave become one of the most important aspects of the game, and featuring a Nintendo character in some small way would be a massive surprise. When it comes to its image, Disney has grown a reputation for being incredibly particular with what the company features, but allowing Sora to be in a non-Disney franchise was a huge move for the company. This collaboration could have been the first seeds planted in growing a larger collaboration.
Kingdom Heartsdirector Masahiro Sakurai met with a Disney representative who was interested in adding Sora to SuperSmash Bros. Ultimate, eventually leading to the character being added to the game’s lineup.
Kingdom Hearts 4 Featuring Nintendo
Although a Nintendo reference being added toKingdom Hearts 4is unlikely, it’s not impossible. It’stime forKingdom Heartsto subvert expectationsin some exciting ways, and referencing Nintendo would be a bold way to start. Returning the favor ofSuper Smash Bros. Ultimatedoesn’t have to be a full-blown feature of a Nintendo character, but a small reference hinting at the acknowledgment of the company would be enough to make both corporations even.
It could ultimately be jarring to see the likes of Mario or Bowser making a randomappearance inKingdom Hearts 4, but it could also be a hilariously unexpected feature. Whether it’s a cameo or just a subtle reference, it would be a great way for Sora’sSuper Smash Bros. Ultimatecameo to have its full circle moment.
