An extremely obscure bit of text inKingdom Hearts 3may provide some hints as to the future of the series. While it’s easy to dismiss this bit of text as filler at first glance, several major signs indicate that this could very well set the scene forKingdom Hearts 4.
The secret ending ofKingdom Hearts 3reveals that Sora isn’t quite dead following the moment when he vaporizes during the game’s normal ending. Instead, he has arrived in a city that looks very much like Tokyo. As he wanders the city, he is watched by Yozora, a mysterious newcomer with unknown motivations. The DLC epilogueRe Mindgave Sora a fierce battle against Yozora, but whether he wins or loses, Sora doesn’t learn why Yozora is targeting him. Later on, during the ending ofKingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory, Riku learns that Sora is in a bizarre world named Quadratum.
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The text in question appears on the back of theVerum Rexvideo game box, which features Yozora and appears in theToy Storysection ofKingdom Hearts 3. The box has some amusing details that evoke classicFinal Fantasygames. In addition to supposed in-game screenshots that resemble those seen in games likeFinal Fantasy 7, the game is published by Square Enix. This hilariously confirms that Square Enix exists within Sora’s universe, adding yetanother wrinkle toKingdom Hearts' convoluted storytelling.
The back of the box mentions that robots play an important role in Quadratum, but humans will have their “KARMA” accelerate as a result. It’s unclear whether “KARMA” in this case is literal karma, or some other in-universe term. If literal, karma could be a new framing for theKingdom Heartsseries' discussion of light and darkness. After all, at this point,Sora and friends have evolved as people, and could be said to have accrued good and bad karma. Alternately, “KARMA” could be a new game mechanic, likeFinal Fantasy 7’s Materia.
The focus on robots may call back to one of the more confusing plot points in theKingdom Heartsseries, namely data and artificial beings. A major plot point inKingdom Hearts Re:codedfor the Nintendo DS was that a digital clone of Sora, known as Data-Sora, grew his own heart, signifying his person-hood. While the box art evokes pilotable mechas, rather than sentient robots, it’s possible that robots may be become major characters, helping players better understand how data works in this universe.
Finally, much of the text evokes Sora’s journey, suggesting that perhapsSora was always fated to meet Yozoraat some point. Phrases like “what is [an] eternal bond” and “a journey without a place to return” speak to the challenge Sora currently faces. After all, he has never been farther from his friends than he is in Quadratum. While he will hopefully return home at some point in the future, for the time being, he certainly faces a journey without a place to return.
Kingdom Hearts 3is available now on PS4 and Xbox One, with a PC release set for March 30th, 2021.
