Kingdom Hearts Gets a D23 "Deep Dive" Panel for Its 25th Anniversary

Disney's D23 fan event, set for August 2026 in California, is shaping up to be a landmark moment for the Kingdom Hearts franchise. Square Enix has confirmed a dedicated "deep dive" panel celebrating the series' 25th anniversary, and fans are already buzzing about the possibility of major Kingdom Hearts 4 updates. The original Kingdom Hearts launched in 2002 as a crossover between Disney and Final Fantasy, and the franchise has grown into one of Square Enix's most beloved RPG properties over the past two and a half decades.

While the panel is officially framed as a retrospective celebration of 25 years of the series, speculation around a new Kingdom Hearts 4 showing is running high, especially coming just two months after Square Enix surprised fans with an unexpected new trailer for the long-anticipated sequel. Reports from outlets including Eurogamer caution that fans should temper their expectations for a lengthy Kingdom Hearts 4 update, suggesting the event will lean more celebratory than revelatory. That said, Polygon notes that a rumored Fortnite crossover could also be on the table, adding another layer of potential announcements to watch for at the event.

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