According to industry insider and leaker Midori, also known as MbKKssTBhz5, a Kingdom Hearts and Fortnite collaboration is in the works. While no official date has been set, the news is definitely exciting for fans of both franchises.
The buzz regarding the beloved gaming franchise joining Fortnite’s ever-expanding universe suggests that the series is continuing its recent revival and expansion, and given Disney’s connection to the developers of the two projects, Square Enix and Epic Games, it’s easy to believe this pretty convincing leak.
The Series Joining Fortnite Makes a Lot of Sense
Firstly, the Disney connection is very relevant. Both of these franchises have strong ties to Disney, making this collaboration a natural fit. This partnership would also be mutually beneficial, as Kingdom Hearts would gain exposure to Fortnite’s vast and younger audience, introducing it to the series. On the other hand, Fortnite could draw in existing fans of Kingdom Hearts, as has been the goal for most of its collaborations.
I heard Fortnite was part of this initiative. But I didn’t have any other information on collaboration or date for the collaboration.
— みどり (@MbKKssTBhz5) May 21, 2024
The franchise’s blend of Disney characters and locations, along with its animated style, aligns well with Fortnite’s visuals as well. If this collaboration does indeed happen, fans can expect some exciting new skins based on Sora, Riku, Kairi, and other fan favorites.
Disney’s recent investment in Epic Games is another thing that lends credibility to this rumored collaboration. The $1.5 billion equity stake is part of a multi-year project to create a persistent universe that connects with Epic Games. This project will feature characters and stories from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and a lot more, all created within Unreal Engine.
Disney and Epic have previously collaborated on successful video game collaborations. This partnership includes Unreal Engine, which will enable Epic Games to produce even more diverse and varied content for Disney. Disney’s decision to put a greater emphasis on gaming makes sense, considering how profitable the year’s top games usually are.
Kingdom Hearts’ Recent Revival Continues
There’s been some exciting news recently for fans of the series, as it is set to launch on Steam on June 13, 2024, after being exclusive to the Epic Games Store. This release will include games like HD 1.5+2.5 ReMIX, HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue, Kingdom Hearts 3+Re Mind DLC, and more. The Steam Deck compatibility hasn’t been confirmed yet.
Midori has also stated that the upcoming fourth mainline game in the franchise, as well as the aforementioned games from the series, will also be coming to the Nintendo Switch 2 after it releases next year.
They said the Steam ports were in development since last summer.
A company named BitGroove is working on Missing Link and the next beta test would be in April.
KH4 has some small online features and looks very different from the first trailer. The codename is Quattro.— みどり (@MbKKssTBhz5) May 21, 2024
If this rumor also comes true, that means big things are planned for the series as it expands to even more players, no longer being exclusive to a handful of platforms.
The series has been a long-running collaboration between Square Enix and Disney, blends elements from both companies’ iconic properties, and features characters and worlds from classic Disney animated and live-action movies that the players can explore and interact with.
What are you hoping to see in a potential collaboration between these two franchises, as well as in Kingdom Hearts 4? Let us know in the comments below.