Kingdom Hearts 4 Trailer Features Pixar's Coco and New Gameplay

Fans got a major surprise at D23 when a new trailer for Kingdom Hearts 4 debuted during the Pixar showcase. The footage confirms that Sora will visit the world of Coco, the hit 2017 film. Sora sports a subtle new look with skeleton face paint to blend into the Land of the Dead, and he wields a beautiful new guitar inspired keyblade. It looks like the team is putting serious effort into making this world feel authentic, as Benjamin Bratt is returning to voice Ernesto de la Cruz.

One of the most interesting details is how the game handles party members. Miguel from Coco will join Sora, which makes him the youngest party member in the series to date. The trailer also shows off a fresh UI design with a more detailed diamond shaped minimap. Fans were quick to notice a Moogle icon on the map, suggesting that the classic Moogle Shop and synthesis mechanics are making a return.

Technical improvements are clearly visible thanks to the use of Unreal Engine 5. The lighting and environment quality appear to be a step above the previous entry. Perhaps most encouraging is that the trailer featured English voice acting, which might suggest that development is moving along faster than expected. While we are still waiting for the full game to arrive in 2027, this look at the Coco world has definitely raised the hype level.