Kingdom Hearts' Handheld History Makes One Switch 2 Release Seem Inevitable
From PSP to Switch: Why Kingdom Hearts' Handheld Legacy Points to a Future Release on Switch 2
Since its debut, Kingdom Hearts has built a reputation for making its way to handheld systems, with many of the franchise's spin-offs created specifically for portable devices. While the mainline games have typically launched on home consoles, titles like Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories (originally on the Game Boy Advance) and others, such as Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep, Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance, and Kingdom Hearts: Re:Coded, were all crafted for handheld systems. Even the often-misunderstood Kingdom Hearts: 358/2 Days was designed exclusively for portable platforms.
In recent years, however, the Kingdom Hearts franchise has had a quieter presence on handheld consoles. Outside of the rhythm-based Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory, which saw a release on the Nintendo Switch in 2020, there has been a lack of new Kingdom Hearts spin-offs for portable platforms. While mobile games like Kingdom Hearts X and the upcoming Kingdom Hearts: Missing Link continue to expand the franchise, they don't quite replicate the experience that the traditional offline, single-player spin-offs offered. This gap in the franchise’s presence on portable systems makes the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 a perfect candidate for future Kingdom Hearts releases.
The Switch 2: A Strong Candidate for Kingdom Hearts
The announcement of the Nintendo Switch 2 has generated plenty of excitement, as it promises to be a substantial upgrade over the original. With a larger screen, improved Joy-Con functionality, USB-C ports, and much more powerful hardware, the Switch 2 is poised to provide a significantly better experience than its predecessor. Unlike past Nintendo consoles, which often featured unique gimmicks that could hinder certain gaming experiences, the Switch 2 offers a more straightforward, traditional gaming platform, making it an ideal match for high-quality, visually demanding games like Kingdom Hearts.
Kingdom Hearts 4 and Spin-Offs on the Switch 2
Given that the Switch 2 will likely feature enhanced third-party support due to its increased power, it stands to reason that Kingdom Hearts 4 could eventually find a home on the console. While Square Enix hasn’t yet confirmed which platforms Kingdom Hearts 4 will be available on, the Switch 2’s capabilities make it a plausible candidate. Though Kingdom Hearts 4 may be a graphically intensive game, its visual style and technical requirements don't seem out of reach for a next-generation handheld console like the Switch 2.
If for any reason Kingdom Hearts 4 doesn’t land on the Switch 2, Square Enix could still release a spin-off title for the system. Unlike Melody of Memory, which was essentially a rhythm game and served as a recap of the series, a new spin-off should focus more on the franchise's rich lore and narrative. Games like Chain of Memories and Dream Drop Distance offered unique, story-driven experiences that expanded the world of Kingdom Hearts, and a future Switch 2 spin-off could build on this tradition. Fans would love to see a spin-off that adds meaningful depth to the ongoing saga, rather than a light-hearted game that barely contributes to the overall narrative.
Kingdom Hearts on Switch 2: Not Necessarily Exclusive, But Likely
While Square Enix has expressed interest in becoming a more multi-platform publisher, a Kingdom Hearts game for the Switch 2 seems all but inevitable. Even if the game isn’t exclusive to the console, the sheer popularity of the Kingdom Hearts series and the success of the Switch platform makes it a wise decision for Square Enix to release something on the upcoming console. Whether it's Kingdom Hearts 4, a new spin-off, or even a native port of the Kingdom Hearts HD Collections (which curiously didn’t make it to the original Switch), bringing Kingdom Hearts to the Switch 2 would be a smart move to capitalize on the success of both the franchise and the console.
As the Kingdom Hearts franchise continues to evolve, the Switch 2 offers the perfect opportunity for Square Enix to continue expanding the series with both mainline titles and spin-offs, keeping fans excited and engaged in the world of Sora and his friends.
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