Square Enix has revealed more info about its upcoming mobile game Kingdom Hearts Missing Link, as well as released its first piece of concept art, which has caught fans by surprise.
Over the weekend, it was revealed that beta testing for Kingdom Hearts Missing Link is due to begin on January 13, 2023 - January 18, 2023, with sign-ups now available via the new Kingdom Hearts Missing Link website until December 26, 2023. The only catch is that this beta test is only available in Japan and on iOS devices right now.
As revealed in a tweet from the Kingdom Hearts Dark Road account, this "prototype test" isn't your normal closed beta test, as it'll only feature some of the full game's functions on a small scale. According to the same tweet, an official closed beta test will apparently be announced later. So we may get a chance to take part worldwide soon after.
Along with this news, Square Enix has also released some new Kingdom Hearts Missing Link artwork. It's a very different look from what we're used to seeing from Sora, Donald, and Goofy's previous adventures and the comparisons to Bloodborne have already begun. It's not hard to see why several fans have been reminded of the FromSoftware game as the art features a dreary colour scheme, intimidating architecture, and what looks like a lot of mist.
Okay so a new key art for Kingdom Hearts missing link dropped but why does it SCREAM Bloodborne???? I LOVE THIS???? pic.twitter.com/nZw5yMRyoMDecember 19, 2022
Can't be the only one who thinks the Keyblade Wielders in the new Missing-Link artwork give of bloodborne vibes 🤣 #KingdomHearts pic.twitter.com/HB316YlrZNDecember 19, 2022
I couldn’t resist pic.twitter.com/Bd5Y6PbafhDecember 19, 2022
If Kingdom Hearts Missing Link is news to you, let us catch you up. Originally revealed during the Kingdom Hearts 20th-anniversary event in Tokyo last April - the very same event where Kingdom Hearts 4 was first revealed - Kingdom Hearts Missing Link has been a bit of a mystery up until now since all we've had to go off of is a short teaser trailer. In the trailer, we are introduced to a host of new characters in a version of the Kingdom Hearts 3 world Scala ad Caelum.
It's probably worth keeping an eye on this mobile game, especially considering the role Kingdom Hearts X (aka 'Unchained X' or 'Dark Road') played in the overall story of Kingdom Hearts 3. Series director Tetsuya Nomura has already said that Missing Link will have connections to Kingdom Hearts 4, so you better be ready to play this one when it does eventually release.
Fancy getting started with the long-running series? Find out where to start with our how to play the Kingdom Hearts games in order guide.
Kingdom Hearts 4 has been radio silent for 1,005 days, but don’t worry - Tetsuya Nomura teases he has the story planned out
The original Kingdom Hearts was initially "more hardcore" until Square Enix toned it down: "We had some puzzles in there that would make you go, 'what is this, Takeshi's Challenge?'"
