Greg Miller

The Final Fantasy publisher announced on Wednesday that it was canceling Kingdom Hearts Missing Link, which began development back in 2019 because it didn't think it could deliver on the live service experience in the long haul. The change of heart comes as Square Enix commits to releasing fewer but better games.

The Final Fantasy publisher announced on Wednesday that it was canceling Kingdom Hearts Missing Link, which began development back in 2019 because it didn't think it could deliver on the live service experience in the long haul. The change of heart comes as Square Enix commits to releasing fewer but better games.

Missing Link was supposed to be a GPS-based RPG that integrated the real world into the series' familiar action combat with storytelling, and it was originally supposed to launch in 2024. Quote, The publisher wrote in an update, Leading us to the decision to cancel development, end quote.

Missing Link was supposed to be a GPS-based RPG that integrated the real world into the series' familiar action combat with storytelling, and it was originally supposed to launch in 2024. Quote, The publisher wrote in an update, Leading us to the decision to cancel development, end quote.

Square Enix confirmed it is still all in on Kingdom Hearts 4, but noted in its latest earnings briefing that it plans to be choosier about what it greens like going forward. On the back of a $217 million drop in net sales last year, despite the outsized success of Dragon Quest 3 HD 2D, the company revealed a three-year plan to, quote, "...reboot and awaken long-term growth."

Square Enix confirmed it is still all in on Kingdom Hearts 4, but noted in its latest earnings briefing that it plans to be choosier about what it greens like going forward. On the back of a $217 million drop in net sales last year, despite the outsized success of Dragon Quest 3 HD 2D, the company revealed a three-year plan to, quote, "...reboot and awaken long-term growth."

It includes various initiatives to improve productivity by utilizing AI as well as releasing fewer games.

It includes various initiatives to improve productivity by utilizing AI as well as releasing fewer games.

Quote, under the new management structure, we reviewed all projects at our domestic studios, including HD and SD titles, and decided to discontinue development of some titles and invest additional funds in titles that require refinement, thereby steadily implementing a strategy of selecting and concentrating development resources, the company wrote in a presentation.

Quote, under the new management structure, we reviewed all projects at our domestic studios, including HD and SD titles, and decided to discontinue development of some titles and invest additional funds in titles that require refinement, thereby steadily implementing a strategy of selecting and concentrating development resources, the company wrote in a presentation.

It also wants to reestablish a mid- to long-term pipeline to achieve a shift from quantity to quality. Wow. A lot of corporate speak, a lot of bullshit, blah, blah, blah. Good on you for canceling this. Good on you for trying something. I'm glad they didn't force it out. They didn't do this whole thing. Everybody hates it.

It also wants to reestablish a mid- to long-term pipeline to achieve a shift from quantity to quality. Wow. A lot of corporate speak, a lot of bullshit, blah, blah, blah. Good on you for canceling this. Good on you for trying something. I'm glad they didn't force it out. They didn't do this whole thing. Everybody hates it.

The team, I mean, I can't say won't get laid off still, but like... It seems like they're potentially transitioning them to four. It seems like they're... And again, I think we talk all the time about publishers learning the wrong lessons. AI ain't the right lesson to learn here, but it is the right lesson to learn. Let's make fewer better games. Yes, of course.

The team, I mean, I can't say won't get laid off still, but like... It seems like they're potentially transitioning them to four. It seems like they're... And again, I think we talk all the time about publishers learning the wrong lessons. AI ain't the right lesson to learn here, but it is the right lesson to learn. Let's make fewer better games. Yes, of course.

MrHawks182 writes in with a super chat and says, the worst part of the mobile Kingdom Hearts game being canceled is that you know the thing contained around six to nine super important Kingdom Hearts lore drops. You will be lost in Kingdom Hearts 4. Adem2Times says, RIP Kingdom Hearts missing link. So people are out there. They're mourning it.

MrHawks182 writes in with a super chat and says, the worst part of the mobile Kingdom Hearts game being canceled is that you know the thing contained around six to nine super important Kingdom Hearts lore drops. You will be lost in Kingdom Hearts 4. Adem2Times says, RIP Kingdom Hearts missing link. So people are out there. They're mourning it.

They are saying it's a resolute RIP Kingdom Hearts missing link. Word was that it was pretty much finished too. Frowny emoji.

They are saying it's a resolute RIP Kingdom Hearts missing link. Word was that it was pretty much finished too. Frowny emoji.

It wouldn't be good though, they said, right? No. Don't worry about it. Take all of your information. I don't know what any of this means. Uh-oh. Resolute has a different super chat. I'm curious if Disney Step, S-T-E-P, coming out last year in Japan, which looks extremely similar to Kingdom Hearts Missing Link, led to the cancellation.

It wouldn't be good though, they said, right? No. Don't worry about it. Take all of your information. I don't know what any of this means. Uh-oh. Resolute has a different super chat. I'm curious if Disney Step, S-T-E-P, coming out last year in Japan, which looks extremely similar to Kingdom Hearts Missing Link, led to the cancellation.