Get ready, Keyblade wielders—Disney and Square Enix brought massive news to D23 2026, officially pulling back the curtain on the vibrant Coco world in Kingdom Hearts IV, a brand-new animated series, and a concrete launch window.
The Ultimate Disney Fan Event kicked off with an explosive trailer for Kingdom Hearts IV, treating audiences to a stunning look at the Land of the Dead, a fresh perspective on Sora and his companions, and the confirmation of a late 2027 release. Adding to the excitement, a brand-new Kingdom Hearts anime (currently under a working title) was announced for Disney Channel and Disney+. To unpack all these revelations, Square Enix hosted the “Deep Dive into Kingdom Hearts” panel, which streamed on YouTube on August 15.
Moderated by Khelo Thomas (known for Holes), the panel featured an all-star lineup including Nana Gadd from Disney & Pixar Games, co-director Tai Yasue, Sora’s voice actor Haley Joel Osment, Riku’s voice actor David Gallagher, Disney Voice Director Renee Johnson, and a surprise appearance by series co-director Tetsuya Nomura.
The footage highlighted the beloved universe of Coco, starting with Héctor explaining the grim reality of being forgotten in the living world. As Miguel takes the stage to perform Un Poco Loco, Sora sports his signature realistic aesthetic combined with a painted skeletal look, leaping into action to protect the crowd from the Heartless. Alongside Miguel and Héctor, Sora navigates the colorful Land of the Dead, unlocks a unique Coco-themed Keyblade, grinds rails while fighting off new foes, and unleashes a dynamic Team Attack alongside Héctor.
Meanwhile, back in Sora’s home reality, King Mickey pours over library texts in search of a way to bring him home. Elsewhere, Donald Duck and Goofy scour the Underworld, only to be baffled when a returning James Woods reprises his role as Hades, confirming that Sora is nowhere to be found. The preview teases a fleeting glimpse of Donald and Goofy appearing in spiritual or digital forms within Quadratum before transitioning into a massive clash featuring Sora, Strelitzia, and Sigurd against the Heartless and Darksides. Finally, the trailer solidified the game’s official release window: late 2027.
During the deeper dive, attendees were treated to an extended four-minute cut of the trailer. Key takeaways included Sora navigating Quadratum to rescue civilians, unique enemy encounters in the Land of the Dead, and a dedicated, puzzle-oriented playable segment starring Mickey Mouse. We also saw Donald and Goofy’s ongoing search for Sora across the Underworld and the Land of the Dead. The footage circled back to Quadratum for a tense reunion between Luxu (Xigbar) and a young Xehanort, culminating in Riku swooping in to save Sora, Strelitzia, and Sigurd from overwhelming Darksides.
Following the screening, Tai Yasue and Tetsuya Nomura dove deeper into the mechanics. Fans learned how Miguel and Héctor actively participate in combat: Miguel uses his guitar and vocals to disrupt the Heartless, while Héctor wields his skeletal arm as both a bow-and-arrow and a nunchuck. Mickey Mouse’s playable section involves exploring a literal paper-world book, folding origami clones of himself to solve intricate puzzles. Additionally, it was confirmed that Maleficent will command a significant presence in the plot.
To put fan anxieties about potential delays to rest, Yasue made it abundantly clear that Kingdom Hearts IV is locked in for late 2027, stating with absolute confidence, “It’s not an 80% or 90% thing, it’s a 100% thing.”
Before concluding the presentations, D23 dropped news of the television adaptation. Developed by Tetsuya Nomura and Square Enix for Disney Channel and Disney+, the upcoming Kingdom Hearts series (working title) will chart an entirely fresh narrative within the franchise’s expansive lore.
Between the massive showcase and the developer panel, the community has plenty of exciting developments to digest regarding *Kingdom Hearts IV* and the horizon of the franchise. Now, the waiting game begins as everyone speculates on which additional Disney and Pixar properties might make the cut, whether Final Fantasy favorites will return, and what special editions await collectors.