Kingdom Hearts Missing Link Is Holding A Closed Beta Next Month

30.10.2023 - 10:19 / thegamer.com / Mickey Mouse

Kingdom Hearts Missing Link was announced last April, but over a year later, we've heard very little about the game. However, a lucky few will be able to try it for themselves on November 29 as Square Enix is hosting a closed beta for iOS users in the UK and Australia. For those with Android phones, you'll have to wait until next January.

You can apply for the closed beta at this link, but you must be 18 or older.

The beta will accept approximately 3,000 people in total - 1,500 players for iOS and another 1,500 for Android. The first wave, starting on November 29, will run until December 8, while no dates have been given for January.

Interestingly, Square Enix called Missing Link an "all GPS action RPG", but that doesn't mean you have to wander your neighbourhood in search of Keyblade-wielding twinks. The trailer says you can "Travel the world without stepping outside", while the FAQ reveals location information "is used to display the player's current position and map in-game".

The trailer also says we'll unveil a "brand-new story" with all-new characters in a "blank era severed from history". This era will, according to the game's lead character, eventually be forgotten. But of course, this is Kingdom Hearts, so there are still Disney characters aplenty. We see Mickey Mouse, Pinocchio, Winnie the Pooh, Ariel, Simba, and Baymax in the trailer alone.

This isn't the first Missing Link beta and it's not even the first one this year. Earlier in January, a closed beta was held in Japan where several key details and images leaked from. Story missions weren't available, but players did uncover Jewels (like those in Unchained X) and gacha elements.

The beta also revealed a character creator that lets you alter your clothes, accessories, hair, makeup, and eye colour. It's impressively in-depth, but what's more impressive is that many players who got into the beta likened its graphics to a Nintendo Switch game despite it being a mobile exclusive.

Players in the earlier beta also uncovered two Keyblades which you can switch between in combat, one being ranged and the other being melee. We can see Keyblades in the new trailer, too. It wouldn't be Kingdom Hearts without 'em.

It's still unclear when the game will launch, but the Kingdom Hearts Union Cross Twitter was rebranded around Missing Link, so it's clear that Square Enix is finally gearing up to break the silence and pull fans out of the dark. As with the last beta, we'll likely find out more as it rolls out next month.

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