This morning, Square Enix released a new piece of artwork from Tetsuya Nomura featuring Young Xehanort and a new message. In the artwork, Nomura writes that the team is working towards the 25th anniversary of the series, which is set to occur in 2027.
Young Xehanort is seen holding a clear umbrella, surrounded by flowers, and looking on in the distance. Nomura has previously drawn artwork featuring Young Xehanort with a similar outfit and umbrella following KINGDOM HEARTS Union χ DARK ROAD. Many fans speculate that the character may appear in Kingdom Hearts IV, especially following the events that occurred at the end of Kingdom Hearts III. You can view the new artwork below:
Kingdom Hearts IV is currently in development at Square Enix. The title is set to take place in Quadratum following Sora after the events of Kingdom Hearts III. Tetsuya Nomura has confirmed that Quadratum will act as the “hub” for the early portions of the game and that there will be a “Lost Masters” antagonist group. You can check out the reveal trailer here.
While there has largely been no news regarding the development of the game, a development update was shared in May 2025, revealing new screenshots of the game and promising fans more information in due time.
