The Surprising Connection Between Clive and Final Fantasy in Kingdom Hearts 4

Highlights

Clive Rosfield's appearance in Kingdom Hearts 4 is unlikely based on the pattern of previous Final Fantasy representation in the series.

The presence of classic Final Fantasy characters in the Kingdom Hearts series often takes precedence over newer titles, leading to a lower likelihood of Clive making an appearance. Additionally, the development of Kingdom Hearts 4 started prior to the release of Final Fantasy 16, indicating that Clive's inclusion was not initially intended. Given Square Enix's uncertainty about Clive's popularity and the success of his game, including him would pose a risk.

Clive Rosfield, a beloved character from Final Fantasy, has gained significant popularity and fans are eagerly hoping for his appearance in Kingdom Hearts 4. However, considering the pattern of Final Fantasy representation in the Kingdom Hearts series, it seems likely that fans will be disappointed if they expect to see both Sora and Clive fighting side by side. This is mainly because the crossover series tends to prioritize characters from classic Final Fantasy games from the PS One and Nintendo eras, disregarding even the most successful newer titles starting from Final Fantasy 10.

Final Fantasy 16's Release During Kingdom Hearts 4's Development

Although it is challenging to determine exactly when there will be news or a release date for Kingdom Hearts 4, the 2022 trailer confirms that the game is currently being developed. It appears that Square Enix was uncertain about the success of Final Fantasy 16 when they began planning Kingdom Hearts 4, as they likely had already finalized the basic outline for the game. While there is a possibility for changes in direction before release, it may not be the best choice for the series considering the typically lengthy development time for previous Kingdom Hearts titles.

A notable example of this intertwined development resulting in the exclusion or diminished presence of certain characters can be seen in the original Kingdom Hearts at Destiny Islands. In this starting location, Tidus and Wakka from Final Fantasy 10 can be found, but their appearances are altered as they are depicted as children and lack their distinctive designs. This was because Final Fantasy 10 and Kingdom Hearts were released within a year of each other, and Square Enix did not have confidence in the popularity of newer characters like Tidus and Wakka during the crossover's development.

This is likely very similar to where Kingdom Hearts 4 and Final Fantasy 16 land, with the crossover having been planned before discovering that Clive would quickly become a beloved protagonist. While Clive has a lot to offer as an older mentor figure in the next game, it is unlikely that he had been planned for the development leading up to Kingdom Hearts 4. This also disregards the fact that the Kingdom Hearts series only seems to show reverence for classic titles, creating a significant gap between the games released more than fifteen years ago.

No Country for New Final Fantasy

After a span of 17 years, it may seem peculiar to label Final Fantasy 12 as "new." However, this distinction marks the point at which the most recent "recent" titles from the Final Fantasy series were integrated into Kingdom Hearts. The previous game to feature a reference was Final Fantasy 10-2, where Yuna, Rikku, and Paine made appearances as enigmatic pixies/treasure hunters in Kingdom Hearts 2. Since then, the majority of referenced characters have predominantly emerged from the PS One era or assumed the guise of beloved Final Fantasy mascots like Moogles.

Strangely, The World Ends With You has made a cameo in Kingdom Hearts since its release, while no other Final Fantasy game has received this treatment. This is surprising considering the popularity of games like Final Fantasy 13 in Japan, where main character Lightning even had a crossover with Louis Vuitton. Therefore, although it would make sense for Clive to join the roster of guest characters in Kingdom Hearts, it doesn't seem like the series is heading in that direction for future installments.

Square Enix is currently developing Kingdom Hearts 4.