Square Enix Shifts Kingdom Hearts IV’s Quadratum to Photorealism, 20 Years After Luxord’s 2006 Debut
Updated
Updated · Kotaku · Jun 11
Square Enix Shifts Kingdom Hearts IV’s Quadratum to Photorealism, 20 Years After Luxord’s 2006 Debut
1 articles · Updated · Kotaku · Jun 11
Summary
Quadratum in Kingdom Hearts IV gives Sora and other characters a markedly more realistic look, extending the series’ gradual move toward photorealistic visuals.
Director Tetsuya Nomura said the shift is deliberate because Quadratum is an “underworld” and a fictional world different from reality for Sora.
The redesign is most visible in returning characters such as Luxord, whose new appearance contrasts sharply with his Kingdom Hearts II look from 2006.
Donald and Goofy appear only briefly in the trailer, leaving unclear whether they will also be redesigned if they enter Quadratum.
The change underscores how the series’ original worldbuilding is pulling its visual identity further from its earlier Disney-styled look.