What it is
Kingdom Hearts III is not a new game, but it is returning to UK shelves and digital stores in a new native-console release on Thursday, 8 October 2026. The original action RPG launched in Britain on 29 January 2019 for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. This 2026 edition brings Kingdom Hearts III and its Re Mind expansion to PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2 and Xbox Series X|S, with the main game and expansion sold together.
- UK release
- Thursday, 8 October 2026; eligible PS5 and Xbox digital pre-orders receive 48-hour early access
- Platforms
- PS5, Nintendo Switch 2 and Xbox Series X|S for the 2026 native release; PS4, Xbox One, Steam and Epic Games Store versions also available
- Developer
- Square Enix Business Division 3 for the original game
- Publisher
- Square Enix
- UK price
- £32.99 for Kingdom Hearts III + Re Mind; £64.99 for Kingdom Hearts Collection [I–III] digitally
- PEGI
- PEGI 12 — violence
- Genre
- Action role-playing (RPG), hack and slash/beat 'em up, adventure
- Online mode
- No — single-player only
- Game Pass/PS Plus
- No inclusion announced; Xbox cloud play requires purchase of the game
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 4
Story and setting
Kingdom Hearts III concludes the series’ Dark Seeker Saga. Sora, Donald Duck and Goofy set out to restore Sora’s lost power of waking and find the seven guardians of light before Master Xehanort can begin a second Keyblade War. Riku and King Mickey pursue their own leads, while Sora tries to reunite with friends including Kairi. The story follows directly from Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance and assumes that the player is familiar with Xehanort, the Heartless, the Keyblade and Organization XIII.
The journey moves between original Kingdom Hearts locations and worlds based on Disney and Pixar films. Confirmed settings include Olympus from Hercules, the Toy Box from Toy Story, the Kingdom of Corona from Tangled, Arendelle from Frozen, Monstropolis from Monsters, Inc., San Fransokyo from Big Hero 6 and the Caribbean from Pirates of the Caribbean. Disney and Pixar characters join Sora’s party or appear in special attacks and story scenes.
How it plays
This is a third-person, single-player action RPG built around real-time melee combat, magic and party commands rather than turn-based battles. Sora fights alongside Donald and Goofy, with Disney characters joining him in particular worlds. The game supports fast movement, aerial attacks, defensive manoeuvres, situational abilities and large-scale boss encounters, including battles that make use of a world’s verticality and scenery.
Keyblades can transform into different weapons with their own attacks and abilities, and Sora can switch between equipped Keyblades during combat. Attractions summon spectacular attacks inspired by Disney theme-park rides, while Links call in characters such as Wreck-It Ralph or Ariel. The Gummi Ship returns for travel between worlds, with customisation and space encounters, and more than 20 minigames based on classic Disney short films provide diversions away from the main story. Re Mind adds a separate chapter around the original game’s climax, followed by extra endgame episodes and boss encounters.
Trailers and demo
The principal 2026 announcement came on 9 June through the PlayStation and Square Enix trailers, followed by Nintendo’s Direct presentation on the same date. They confirmed Kingdom Hearts Collection [I–III], the 8 October release date and native versions for PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2 and Xbox Series X|S. The collection contains Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5+2.5 ReMIX, Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue and Kingdom Hearts III + Re Mind, while each component is also available separately. The presentation also showed that Kingdom Hearts IV is coming to Switch 2, but it did not announce new Kingdom Hearts III story content.
Nintendo’s 11 June 2026 demo announcement confirmed a free Switch 2 trial. It includes the beginning of the game through the early Olympus sections, with that save data carrying into the full release, plus a separate Toy Box section running from its opening to the middle of the world. Earlier footage remains useful context: the May 2018 Xbox Wire preview demonstrated Olympus, Toy Story, Keyblade transformations, Attractions and team-up attacks, while E3 2018 confirmed the Frozen world and a fire-based Simba summon.
Platforms, editions and UK price
The 2026 release is confirmed for PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2 and Xbox Series X|S. The older PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions remain available, while the PC version is available through Epic Games Store and Steam. The new console edition is sold as Kingdom Hearts III + Re Mind, priced at £32.99 digitally on the UK PlayStation Store, Xbox Store and Nintendo eShop. Re Mind was previously a separate purchase on PS4 and Xbox One.
Kingdom Hearts Collection [I–III] costs £64.99 digitally and adds the two earlier collections. UK retailers have listed physical PS5 and Switch 2 versions of that bundle, with prices varying by shop: GAME lists £61.99 against a £67.99 RRP, while The Game Collection lists £59.95. Digital pre-orders are live. Eligible PS5 and Xbox pre-orders include 48-hour early access; the UK PlayStation listing gives a start time of 00:00 BST on Tuesday, 6 October 2026. The standard UK street date remains Thursday, 8 October.
Should you pre-order?
For anyone who has never played Kingdom Hearts, the Collection [I–III] is the most straightforward official starting point because Kingdom Hearts III closes a story told across several games and films. It is possible to begin with III, but the plot introduces a large cast and expects you to recognise the histories of Sora, Riku, Kairi, Mickey, the Organisation and Xehanort.
Existing players should pay attention to which version they are buying. The £32.99 product includes Re Mind, but the publisher has not fully detailed the technical differences between the new native versions and the older releases. If you already own the PS4, Xbox One or PC edition, waiting for performance comparisons may be sensible.
Not yet confirmed
- Square Enix has not published full technical specifications for the 2026 console versions, including resolution, frame-rate targets or upgrade details for existing owners.
- A standalone physical edition of Kingdom Hearts III + Re Mind has not been confirmed for UK retail; current physical retailer listings are for Kingdom Hearts Collection [I–III].
- No UK launch time has been confirmed for the Nintendo Switch 2 release beyond the 8 October street date.
- No PlayStation Plus or Xbox Game Pass inclusion has been announced for the 2026 versions.
Kingdom Hearts III: your questions
Is Kingdom Hearts III a new game for 2026?
No. The original game launched in the UK on 29 January 2019. The 2026 release is a new native-console version for PS5, Switch 2 and Xbox Series X|S, with Re Mind included.
Does Kingdom Hearts III include Re Mind?
The 2026 Kingdom Hearts III + Re Mind edition does include the expansion. Re Mind was originally sold separately on PS4 and Xbox One.
Is Kingdom Hearts III coming to Nintendo Switch 2?
Yes. A native Switch 2 version launches on 8 October 2026. This is separate from the older Nintendo Switch Cloud Version, and owners of the cloud version are eligible for a 50 per cent discount on the Switch 2 version.
Do I need to play the previous Kingdom Hearts games first?
You can play Kingdom Hearts III by itself, but it concludes a long-running story and relies on characters and events from earlier games. Kingdom Hearts Collection [I–III] includes the main preceding collections.
Is Kingdom Hearts III online or multiplayer?
No. Kingdom Hearts III is a single-player game with no online multiplayer or co-operative campaign.
