A new leak making the rounds online is stirring up serious excitement in the Kingdom Hearts community, with claims that Square Enix is quietly working on a full remake of the original game. According to the report, the project is allegedly titled Kingdom Hearts Relux and is positioned as far more than another HD re-release.
The information comes from an insider known as eXtas1s, who has previously shared industry leaks, though it’s worth stressing that none of the claims below have been officially confirmed by Square Enix.
If the leak is accurate, Kingdom Hearts Relux would be a ground-up remake of the original 2002 title rather than a simple visual upgrade. The report suggests modern assets rebuilt from scratch while preserving the game’s iconic art direction and overall tone. The goal, allegedly, is to modernise the experience without losing the charm that defined the series’ debut.
Beyond visual improvements, the remake is said to include expanded areas and additional story content. One of the more eye-catching claims is the possibility of playable Riku segments, something fans have wanted for years but never received in the original release. There are also mentions of reworked or enhanced soundtrack elements, though it’s unclear how extensive those changes would be.
Interestingly, the leak claims the project may have originally been conceived as a mobile title before being retooled into a full console and PC release. If true, that could help explain why the remake hasn’t surfaced publicly yet, as well as how it fits into Square Enix’s recent reshuffling of its Kingdom Hearts plans.
As for platforms, Kingdom Hearts Relux is rumored to be targeting PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, with potential support for future Nintendo hardware also mentioned. No firm platform list has been confirmed, and any Nintendo involvement remains especially speculative at this stage.
The same leak also touches on release timing. Kingdom Hearts Relux is allegedly aiming for an early 2027 launch, which would line up neatly with the franchise’s 25th anniversary. Following that, Kingdom Hearts 4 is claimed to arrive later in 2027, positioning the remake as a bridge between the series’ past and future.
Again, none of these dates are official, and Square Enix has not acknowledged the existence of Relux in any capacity.
What has been confirmed by Square Enix is that Kingdom Hearts 4 remains in active development. The publisher has also officially cancelled Kingdom Hearts Missing-Link, the previously announced mobile game, leaving a noticeable gap in the franchise’s release roadmap. So far, Square Enix has made no announcements regarding a Kingdom Hearts 1 remake or any project resembling Relux.
Kingdom Hearts 4 was first revealed back in 2022 and is expected to push the series’ story forward in a major way, but it still lacks a release window. In the absence of concrete updates, fans have been filling the void with speculation about remakes, timelines, and anniversary plans, making leaks like this one spread quickly.
For now, Kingdom Hearts Relux remains firmly in rumour territory. Until Square Enix makes an official announcement, fans should take the leak with a healthy dose of skepticism. Still, the idea of a fully rebuilt Kingdom Hearts especially one positioned ahead of KH4 is exactly the kind of surprise that could make a major anniversary truly special if it turns out to be real.
1-Up Games 
Please feel welcome to leave a comment