There have been rumors and theories for years that Kingdom Hearts 4 is bringing Star Wars into the fold, and if that’s the case, then the game is going to have a tough time blending both franchises’ opposing views on the battle between light and dark. Kingdom Hearts 4 still has yet to reveal any details about the worlds it will feature, but Star Wars is one Disney-owned IP that practically feels set in stone. On the surface, Star Wars‘ obsession with light vs. dark seems like a perfect fit for Kingdom Hearts, but it’s not really that simple.
Star Wars has a much more rigid take on how light and darkness operates. With the Jedi and Sith being such opposite forces, there isn’t as much room for balance in this universe. As Kingdom Hearts‘ story has progressed, on the other hand, the concept of light and dark has become more complicated and thought-provoking, and that could make Star Wars‘ potential presence in Kingdom Hearts 4 feel wildly out of place.
Star Wars Has a More Black and White Outlook on Light and Dark, While Kingdom Hearts Acknowledges the Gray Area
The Kingdom Hearts games and Star Wars share the common central theme of light vs. dark, but they approach the topic in opposing ways. In Star Wars, it is made abundantly clear that the dark side is a corruption of the original Force, and it must be stopped in order to bring peace and balance back to the galaxy. The franchise has dipped its toes in exploring some slight gray areas within this universe, specifically with Anakin questioning the Jedi Order throughout the prequels.
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When it comes to the prequels, though, the Jedi Order’s mistake isn’t focusing too much on the light. The Jedi Order’s downfall is its strict adherence to dogma. A dogmatic line of thought creates unnecessary restraints and complications, which led the Jedi Order to lose sight of what really mattered. So, at the end of the day, the dark side is still seen as fully bad, while the light side is seen as fully good.
Kingdom Hearts Understands That the Struggle Between the Dark and the Light Isn’t That Simple
Early on in the Kingdom Hearts universe, darkness and light were viewed in a more Star Wars-inspired way. There was a clear good and bad dichotomy, but that has evolved over time, which makes way for a more compelling narrative to unfold in the next game. In Kingdom Hearts, darkness and light have become complimentary forces, not opposites. Too much of one leaves everything in an unbalanced state, so the two forces actually need each other.
Instead of Star Wars‘ rigid view on light vs. dark, Kingdom Hearts allows for a more nuanced perspective to come into the spotlight. Light and darkness in Kingdom Hearts are simply present in the universe without having an inherent moral standing, and how someone wields these forces is the real deciding factor in whether it’s good or bad.
Kingdom Hearts 4 Having a Star Wars World Would Be Thrilling, But Key Aspects of the Latter’s Canon May Have to Be Tweaked Slightly
If Square Enix really does make a Kingdom Hearts 4 Star Wars world a reality, then Star Wars will have to adhere to Kingdom Hearts‘ view on light vs. darkness. Thankfully, there is a way for this to happen without messing with Star Wars canon too much. Instead of obvious character choices like Obi-Wan Kenobi, Luke Skywalker, or Darth Vader, Kingdom Hearts 4 could put a spotlight on characters who have dabbled with both sides of the Force or have walked away from the Jedi Council in pursuit of following the light instead of adhering to the Order’s rules.
Star Wars Characters Who Would Be Interesting Choices for Kingdom Hearts 4
- Qui-Gon Jinn
- Ahsoka Tano
- Revan
These characters have often been considered part of Star Wars‘ Gray Jedi class, but that has been up for debate. In most cases, Star Wars characters who are considered Gray Jedis are really just mavericks who go by the beat of their own drum instead of using both the light and dark side of the Force. Technicalities aside, the three characters listed above have compelling histories with the Force.
A dogmatic line of thought creates unnecessary restraints and complications, which led the Jedi Order to lose sight of what really mattered.
Qui-Gon Jinn consistently disagreed with the council, and Ahsoka Tano went rogue and became an independent Force user who no longer identified as a Jedi. Revan started as a Jedi, eventually succumbed to the dark side, but bounced back and returned to the light. This trio is the perfect cast of Star Wars characters to help Kingdom Hearts 4 further illustrate that light and darkness aren’t as clear-cut as it may seem.
A Kingdom Hearts 4 Star Wars World Will Be Hard to Tackle
Even without the problem of addressing darkness vs. light, a Star Wars world is a tall order for Square Enix to take on. As exciting as it would be, it creates a pretty big lose-lose situation. There are so many beloved characters and settings that it feels impossible to just pick a handful of them. No matter which Star Wars character is picked, there is bound to be disappointment that others didn’t make the cut.
Square Enix has kept tight-lipped about Kingdom Hearts 4‘s release date, but rumors and leaks have suggested that a 2027 launch is possible. Such claims should be met with a healthy dose of skepticism. However, a 2027 release would be the perfect time, since it would be the 25th anniversary of the Kingdom Hearts franchise.
Kingdom Hearts 4 adding Marvel Comics characters or a Star Wars world is the obvious move, since they’re two of the biggest Disney franchises now, but it actually might be best to leave them out and focus solely on Disney’s original IP. Of course, only time will tell, though. The wait for an official Kingdom Hearts 4 release date is growing longer every day, but this year hopefully marks the moment that Square Enix finally announces when fans can expect to dive into a new Kingdom Hearts game.
- Engine
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Unreal Engine 5
- Franchise
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Kingdom Hearts
