Kingdom Hearts fans are convinced that the recently unveiled fourth game will include a world dedicated to Star Wars.
Amid the franchise's 20th anniversary celebrations, developer Square Enix surprised gamers with the first trailer for Kingdom Hearts VI. While many were excited to see the return of Sora, Donald and Goofy, a brief clip already has some fans hypothesizing about some of the Disney worlds that will be included in the game. The footage in question focuses on an idyllic stream in a green forest wherein the top right corner a strange mechanical object appears to be largely hidden from sight. Fans are convinced that the scene in question is a quiet confirmation that Star Wars will play a role in Kingdom Hearts VI.
Fans are speculating that the strange shape is the partially visible foot of either an AT-ST or an AT-AT, with many others pointing to the forest environment as a hint that Sora may travel to the forest moon of Endor. Neither Disney nor Square Enix has addressed the rumors.
Kingdom Hearts is widely known for its incorporation of Disney franchises into its overall universe. Previous games have included worlds themed around iconic films such as Alice in Wonderland, Beauty and the Beast, Pirates of the Caribbean and Big Hero Six. Since Disney's acquisition of Lucasfilm in 2012, the Star Wars property may be eligible to join Kingdom Hearts' sprawling tapestry.
While little is known about the fourth installment in the beloved Kingdom Hearts franchise, Square Enix confirmed that it will begin a new story for protagonist Sora. "The Lost Master Arc" begins in a mysterious, realistic world known as the Quadratum wherein the Keyblade Master must defeat a towering boss before being reunited with his companions Donald and Goofy. The trailer also teases the arrival of an entirely new character: the enigmatic Strelitzia.
Kingdom Hearts was first released in 2002 for the PlayStation 2, instantly garnering a passionate cult following. The game follows Sora, a teenager craving adventure, who's whisked away from his home on a journey to destroy a dark army known as the Heartless. Square Enix's action RPG has spawned several sequels across a variety of different platforms, the most recent mainline entry being Kingdom Hearts III in 2019.
Kingdom Hearts VI does not yet have a release date.
Source: Twitter