Ethan Crossfield 
As Square Enix prepares a major 2027 release slate, the company has finally clarified where Kingdom Hearts 4 sits inside its reorganized development structure. Creative Studio 1 is handling the long-awaited RPG, placing the project within the studio overseen by Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth director Naoki Hamaguchi. The confirmation has given longtime Kingdom Hearts fans another reason to feel optimistic about the sequel’s progress.
Creative Studio 1 Is Developing Kingdom Hearts 4
Hamaguchi confirmed Creative Studio 1’s involvement during a September 2026 Deadline interview about Square Enix’s plans for the year ahead. While discussing the company’s major upcoming releases, he identified both Kingdom Hearts 4 and Final Fantasy 7 Revelation as projects being developed within his studio. This resolves a question that had remained open since Square Enix retired its former business-unit structure during a reorganization that began in 2024. Creative Studio 1 had been the leading fan theory for some time, but the company had not formally named it until now.
Nomura and Yasue Still Lead the Kingdom Hearts Project
The announcement does not suggest that Hamaguchi has replaced Kingdom Hearts veterans Tetsuya Nomura or Tai Yasue. Nomura remains attached as director, while Yasue continues as co-director. Both were still visibly involved in the project’s latest public updates ahead of D23 2026, and Hamaguchi’s comments did not indicate any change to that leadership arrangement. His role instead appears tied to the broader supervision of Creative Studio 1, the internal team now officially associated with the game.
Fans Welcome the Studio’s Connection to Hamaguchi
The confirmation has received a positive early response from parts of the Kingdom Hearts community. A September 11 discussion on the r/KingdomHearts subreddit gathered hundreds of upvotes and optimistic reactions within hours, with several fans pointing to Hamaguchi’s oversight as a reassuring sign. That enthusiasm reflects the importance of the studio reveal: after years of limited information, fans now have a clearer picture of the team responsible for moving Kingdom Hearts 4 toward release.
What the Confirmation Means for the 2027 Launch
Square Enix has been increasing Kingdom Hearts 4’s visibility after a long period of sparse updates following its April 2022 announcement. D23 2026 established a late-2027 release window, revealed a Coco-inspired world, and showed more gameplay. The event also confirmed that Mickey, Donald, and Goofy will be playable. Nomura and Yasue pushed back on speculation that the game could move beyond 2027, with Yasue stating that development remains on schedule. A second-half launch is therefore the current target, although Square Enix has not provided a specific date.
Key points
- Creative Studio 1 is the confirmed internal developer of Kingdom Hearts 4.
- Naoki Hamaguchi oversees the studio, while Nomura and Yasue remain attached to the project.
- Kingdom Hearts 4 is targeting a release in the second half of 2027.
- D23 2026 revealed new gameplay, a Coco-inspired world, and three playable classic characters.
Confirmed Kingdom Hearts 4 details
| Category | Confirmed information |
|---|---|
| Developer | Square Enix Creative Studio 1 |
| Project leadership | Tetsuya Nomura as director; Tai Yasue as co-director |
| Studio oversight | Naoki Hamaguchi |
| Release target | Second half of 2027 |
| Playable characters revealed | Mickey, Donald, and Goofy |
Expert View
The studio confirmation strengthens Square Enix’s message that Kingdom Hearts 4 is part of a coordinated push toward a major 2027 lineup. For the community, it replaces years of speculation with a concrete development home and links the sequel to an executive associated with one of the company’s most closely watched projects. It is not a release guarantee, but the continued promotion, expanded gameplay reveal, and stated schedule suggest that Square Enix is preparing the franchise for a more sustained public rollout.
