Square Enix Cancels Kingdom Hearts Missing-Link, But There’s Good News Too!
In a surprising move, Square Enix has announced the cancellation of Kingdom Hearts Missing-Link, a mobile spinoff game that was announced alongside Kingdom Hearts IV in 2022. While this news might be disappointing for fans of the series, it’s refreshing to see Square Enix being transparent about the reasons behind the cancellation. But that’s not all – the company is also working on a new project with Tokyo Broadcasting System Television (TBS), a Japanese TV and media company.
The Reason Behind the Cancellation
According to Square Enix, the decision to cancel Kingdom Hearts Missing-Link was made because the company determined that it would be difficult to offer a service that players would find satisfactory over a long period of time. This is a rare and refreshing bit of honesty from a game studio, especially in an industry that often keeps its development process opaque. It’s a reminder that making a successful live-service game is a challenging task, and even the best studios can’t always deliver.
The Challenges of Live-Service Games
Live-service games are notoriously difficult to develop and maintain. They require a constant stream of new content, updates, and features to keep players engaged, which can be a daunting task for even the most experienced developers. Many live-service games have failed to gain traction, and some have even shut down shortly after launch. Square Enix’s decision to cancel Kingdom Hearts Missing-Link is a testament to the challenges of developing a successful live-service game.
The Good News: A New Partnership with TBS
But Square Enix isn’t giving up on gaming just yet. The company has announced a new partnership with TBS, a Japanese TV and media company that produced the popular physical competition show Takeshi’s Castle. TBS has recently started its own games division, and with Square Enix, the two companies will work on a new gaming property. This partnership could lead to some exciting new projects, and we can’t wait to see what they have in store.
Actionable Insights
So what can we learn from Square Enix’s decision to cancel Kingdom Hearts Missing-Link? Here are a few actionable insights:
- Be honest with your fans: Square Enix’s transparency about the reasons behind the cancellation is refreshing and sets a good example for other game studios.
- Don’t be afraid to pivot: Sometimes, it’s better to cancel a project and focus on something new rather than trying to make it work.
- Partner with other companies: Collaborations can lead to new and exciting projects, and Square Enix’s partnership with TBS is a great example of this.
Conclusion
While the cancellation of Kingdom Hearts Missing-Link might be disappointing for fans of the series, it’s a reminder that game development is a challenging and unpredictable process. Square Enix’s transparency and willingness to pivot are refreshing, and we’re excited to see what the company has in store for us next. With its new partnership with TBS, Square Enix is poised to create some exciting new projects, and we can’t wait to see what the future holds.