Kingdom Hearts Cloud Versions are going offline for Switch buyers

Square Enix has announced that the Nintendo Switch Cloud Versions of the Kingdom Hearts series have now been removed from sale, and that they will no longer be playable in one year’s time. Just in case you needed a reminder why you shouldn’t buy cloud versions of games.

The games were removed from sale around the time that the Switch 2 ports were announced yesterday, at 14:59 UTC on Tuesday 9th June 2026. They will remain playable for exactly one year, until 14:59 UTC on Tuesday 9th June 2027, after which the server access will be removed.

Those who have bought the Cloud Versions in the past will be able to get a discounted upgrade to the Switch 2 versions, whether for individual titles or for the new Kingdom Hearts Collection [I~III] (analogous to the Kingdom Hearts Integrum Masterpiece for Cloud release).

The most galling thing about this for Switch players is that Square Enix hasn’t just announced Switch 2 ports, they’re also re-releasing Kingdom Hearts -HD 1.5+2.5 ReMIX- for original Switch with a native port. This is what should have been release in 2022 for Switch, not the cloud versions. -HD 1.5+2.5 ReMIX- might have been first released for PlayStation 4, but that was a collection of PlayStation 3 remasters of PlayStation 2 games. While Kingdom Hearts 3 might have needed to be a cloud version, there’s no good reason that the earlier game collection was not a native Switch port.

And now Square Enix hopes to charge its customers a second time, not just for the game on a new platform, but also for the same platform after discontinuing access.

Square Enix says that “We sincerely apologize to our valued customers for this sudden announcement.”

Heck of a way to show it.

To be clear, Square Enix is offering a discount to existing digital owners of this series. Within a console family to the current gen releases, existing owners will be offered 50% off Kingdom Hearts games for PS5, Xbox Series X|S and Switch 2, and for Kingdom Hearts -HD 1.5+2.5 ReMIX- on Switch 1.

It’s nicer to get a discount than not – looking at you, Switch 2 Dragon Quest XI S port – but Square Enix continues to be one of, if not the least flexible publisher with cross-gen upgrades and pricing. They’re really taking the biscuit with this cloud game shutdown, though.

Source: Square Enix

Tags: Kingdom Hearts, Kingdom Hearts III, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2