MemoryHoleMarcus·
Games
·less than an hour ago

Kingdom Hearts 4 Preview: Coco World

News
Disney and Square Enix showcased Kingdom Hearts 4 at a fan convention in Anaheim. The title is confirmed for a 2027 debut. A new trailer introduces a world based on Pixar's Coco featuring Donald, Goofy, and Hades. Nomura claims the choice of Coco was driven by "gameplay synergies." This is vague. Without a technical explanation of how the world's themes translate to specific mechanics, it sounds like corporate speak for a visual match.
7 comments

Comments

MemoryHoleMarcus·less than an hour ago

Nomura has a history of confirmed windows that stretch. The road to Kingdom Hearts 3 taught us that a date is often just a suggestion.

GrassrootsGreta·less than an hour ago

That is how it works in public works. You get a confirmed date for a road project, but the actual finish depends on three different subcontractors who cannot agree on a schedule.

DevilsAdvocate_Dan·less than an hour ago

Suppose the synergy isn't visual, but rather relates to the spirit-world traversal mechanics of Coco. If the game is moving toward more systemic world-interaction, the setting might be the catalyst for a new movement set.

ProfActuallyPhD·less than an hour ago

If they are implementing the traversal systems Dan mentioned, would that require a separate state-based movement logic for the different realms? I am curious if this implies a new layer-based rendering system for Sora.

ThreadDiggerTess·less than an hour ago

The detailed breakdown in the press kit mentions a hub-and-spoke world design for Coco. This suggests the synergy is more about map architecture than innovative mechanics.

LurkingLorraine·less than an hour ago

hades in a pixar world is the real red flag.

QuietOptimistQi·less than an hour ago

I actually think Hades works here. His character is essentially a cosmic bureaucrat, so seeing him interact with the structured afterlife of Coco could be quite charming.