Editing Kingdom Hearts Fragmented Keys

{{Game|Real}}
[[File:Kingdom Hearts Fragmented Keys 01.png|thumb|250px|Concept render of ''Kingdom Hearts Fragmented Keys'' gameplay.]]
'''''Kingdom Hearts Fragmented Keys''''', also known as '''''Kingdom Hearts Online''''', was a proposed mobile game in the ''{{c|Kingdom Hearts|series}}'' series. Work on the project began around 2012, but it was canceled in 2014 before being announced to the public.<ref name="Announcement" /><ref name="Dev 2" /> It was developed for Disney Interactive by Studio EX in cooperation with a number of other studios; Square Enix was not involved in any way.

==Development==
[[File:Kingdom Hearts Fragmented Keys 02.png|thumb|Design document for ''Kingdom Hearts Online'' dated 2013-12-31, near the end of its lifespan.]]
In December 2012, South Korean studio Studio EX was acquired by Disney. At the time of the acquisition, Korean news site inews24 reported that Studio EX was working on a yet-unannounced  mobile game titled "Kingdom Hearts Online".<ref name="Announcement">'''''[https://www.inews24.com/view/710623 inews24]''''': "New developer with 50 employees, developing Kingdom Hearts Online[...] In addition, it has been confirmed that an online game for the famous console game 'Kingdom Hearts' is being developed, although it has not been released to the public." (Translated.)</ref> The project's existence was confirmed by former Disney Interactive co-president John Pleasants in an interview with The Wall Street Journal in November 2013.<ref>'''''[https://web.archive.org/web/20131117174230/http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2013/11/12/departing-disney-digital-exec-looks-back-forward/ The Wall Street Journal]''''': '''John Pleasants''': "I've focused on the Asian business; we built up our mobile business in Japan. We have a studio in Seoul working on 'Kingdom Hearts Online.'"</ref>

A number of different studios worked on the project, including Trilabyrinth, Go For Launch Productions, Wideload Games, and Breakiron Animation & Design. Information about the game was posted on the websites of several studios and employees.

The game was intended for iOS and Android devices and designed in Unity and C#.<ref>'''''[https://www.inews24.com/view/710623 inews24]''''': "The online game Kingdom Hearts, which StudioEX is developing, is expected to be a multi-platform game that can be enjoyed without restrictions on smartphones or the web, developed with the Unity Engine. The genre is an action MORPG, and it is highly likely that it will have a similar game style to Dungeon & Fighter or Mabinogi Heroes." (Translated.)</ref><ref>'''''[https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomketola/details/experience/ LinkedIn]''''', '''Tom Ketola''': "We were responsible for the premium Avengers Initiative iOS game, as well as for the free-to-play Kingdom Hearts: Forgotten Keys game for iOS and Android. Our games ran using Unity3D, and I helped architect a system that allowed us to run our games for live service without requiring re-submission through Apple or the Android marketplace."</ref><ref name="Dev 1" /> Former developers allege that the game was relatively far along by the time it was cancelled in 2014.<ref name="Dev 1"><!--NOTE: The developer asked KH13 for his name to be removed. Do not re-insert it here.-->'''''[https://www.kh13.com/news/disney-was-developing-a-kingdom-hearts-title-for-ios-android-named-kingdom-hearts-fragmented-keys-in-2013-now-cancelled KH13 archive of developer LinkedIn]''''', '''Developer''': "A mobile, free to play action rpg for iOS and Android phones, written with Unity and C#. The project was deep into development before being cancelled several months after I left the studio."</ref><ref name="Dev 2"><!--IMGUR backup: https://imgur.com/SMh0CXZ-->'''''[https://www.linkedin.com/in/cedric-busse-45661b/ LinkedIn]''''', '''Cedric Busse''': Unannounced Mobile Game | Feb 2013 - Mar 2014 | Project was a free-to-play action RPG for iOS and Android platforms, created using Unity3d and C#. Project had earned approval for release when work ceased on it.</ref>

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==Concept==
[[File:Kingdom Hearts Fragmented Keys 03.png|thumb|Concept image of a Game Central Station hub. The [[Station of Awakening]] is taken from ''Kingdom Hearts'' fan art.]]
''Kingdom Hearts Fragmented Keys'' would have been a free-to-play action RPG.<ref name="Dev 1" /><ref name="Dev 2" /> Because it was canceled before being publicly revealed, there is little official information about the project. Early stages of concept and design art were uploaded on the official websites of two animation studios and the personal websites of several developers.

The artwork includes a mixture of original drawings and models, official Disney artwork, official Square Enix renders, and ''Kingdom Hearts'' fan art. It is unknown whether any of the properties used in the concept pitch were actually planned or approved for inclusion in the final game. The early concept featured worlds based on a number of new and returning Disney properties: ''Aladdin'', ''Alice in Wonderland'', ''Frozen'', ''Peter Pan'', ''Snow White'', ''Star Wars'', ''Tangled'', ''Tron: Uprising'', and ''Wreck-It-Ralph''. [[Game Central Station]] would have acted as a hub world.<ref><!--NOTE: The developer asked KH13 for his name to be removed. Do not re-insert it here.-->'''''KH13 archive of developer LinkedIn''''', '''Developer''': "The concepts for this game was to have several Kingdom Hearts heroes transported to the worlds of our favorite Disney Characters. Traveling through a Grand Central like station our heroes could visit any Disney world of their choosing and join forces with the heroes of those worlds to defeat their enemies."</ref> There is also artwork for Traverse Town and "New Town", a new world inspired by Radiant Garden.

The design concept culminated in a simulation of what gameplay could look like, featuring a mock-up battle on the rooftops of Peter Pan's London.<ref><!--NOTE: The developer asked KH13 for his name to be removed. Do not re-insert it here.-->'''''KH13 archive of developer LinkedIn''''', '''Developer''': "We also created 'World Tour' video that introduced the Kingdom Hearts characters to the Disney worlds and culminated in a game play simulation battle on the rooftops of Peter Pan's London, England. The video formed a large part of a video presentation given to Disney US and Disney Japan executives."</ref><ref>'''''[https://youtu.be/o7R_nJBE4Io  Kingdom Hearts Fragmented Keys by Go For Launch Productions and Studio EX]'''''</ref>

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==Video==
{| class="video"
! ''Kingdom Hearts Fragmented Keys'' Gameplay Simulation
! ''Kingdom Hearts Modeling'' by Breakiron Animation & Design
|-
| {{#widget:YouTube|id=o7R_nJBE4Io|width=320|height=240}}
| {{#widget:YouTube|id=X5aMkWks6nA|width=320|height=240}}
|}

==Notes and references==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20150213012114/http://www.gflanimationstudios.com:80/p/blog-page_2.html Go For Launch Productions gallery 1] (Archived)
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20150213012120/http://www.gflanimationstudios.com:80/p/blog-page_3.html Go For Launch Productions gallery 2] (Archived)
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20150213033121/http://www.trilabyrinth.com/portfolio/3dsets/ Trilabyrinth 3D gallery] (Archived)
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20150213033523/http://www.trilabyrinth.com/portfolio/2d-3d-props-assets/ Trilabyrinth 2D gallery] (Archived)
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20250211161120/https://www.henrymcgrane.net/kingdom-hearts.html Developer 2D gallery] (Archived)
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20250211160444/http://www.matthewlloyd3d.net/more.html Developer 3D gallery] (Archived)

{{KH series}}
[[Category:Games]]
[[Category:Cancelled games]]