The short answer is yes, as of right now the Kingdom Hearts PC ports are exclusively available on the Epic Games Store. However, there is strong evidence based on precedents that the exclusivity window is temporary, and Kingdom Hearts coming to Steam in 2022 or 2023 is very likely.
On March 30 2021, Square Enix announced Kingdom Hearts would be coming to PC for the first time through the Epic Games Store. This kicked off intense discussion around whether one of Playstation‘s most iconic exclusives jumping to PC would remain confined within Epic‘s walled garden or expand to stores like Steam.
Let‘s closely analyze the status of Kingdom Hearts exclusivity on PC and console platforms, the incentives driving these deals, and the outlook for Kingdom Hearts‘ future availability.
Exclusivity Deals – A Primer
First, what do we mean when a game is announced as an "Epic Exclusive"?
This means Epic Games has arranged a timed exclusivity agreement for the game‘s PC launch. Essentially the developer or publisher receives a lump-sum advance payment from Epic. In exchange, they are contractually prohibited from launching the game on other PC storefronts for a defined period of time.
After the exclusivity window expires – typically 6-12 months, sometimes longer – the developer can then release the game on additional PC stores like Steam, GOG, etc.
Here are some prominent examples of games being Epic exclusive temporarily before expanding to Steam:
- Hades – 10 month exclusivity before Steam launch
- Borderlands 3 – 6 month exclusivity before Steam launch
- Hitman 3 – 1 year exclusivity before Steam launch
This has become a common compromise in PC gaming – Epic gets a head start, but the games aren‘t permanently locked into a single store ecosystem.
Examining the Evidence for Kingdom Hearts‘ Timed Exclusivity
Square Enix‘s March 2021 announcement stated Kingdom Hearts would be coming to PC "exclusively at launch on the Epic Games Store".
The key phrase here being "at launch". This indicates the exclusivity has a set duration, rather than being a permanent state.
However, Square Enix has not shared specifics on just how long the exclusivity period will last. But based on typical industry practice, we can reasonably expect somewhere between 6-12 months.
Analyzing how other major Epic exclusives have shaken out, Kingdom Hearts coming to Steam following its exclusivity window expiring seems a very credible possibility:
| Game | Exclusivity Period | Later Available on Steam? |
|---|---|---|
| Hades | 10 months | Yes |
| Borderlands 3 | 6 months | Yes |
| Hitman 3 | 12 months | Yes |
Square Enix also has a track record of bringing titles like Final Fantasy 7 Remake and Nier Replicant to both Epic and Steam simultaneously. So there is precedent on both sides pointing to eventual Steam availability.
Availability on Consoles – The Full Picture
While Kingdom Hearts PC ports are Epic exclusives, important context is that the console availability paints a different picture:
- Kingdom Hearts HD collections have been on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One for years
- Kingdom Hearts III launched simultaneously on PS4 and Xbox One in January 2019
- In February 2022, cloud streaming versions of many Kingdom Hearts games were added to Nintendo Switch Online
So Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo console owners have various means of accessing the series. PC is currently the only platform limited to one distribution channel.
The Court of Public Opinion – Fans Want Steam
Across social media and gaming forums, the PC community made it loudly known they were unhappy about Kingdom Hearts only releasing on Epic Games Store.
A Change.org petition requesting a simultaneous Steam version garnered over 20,000 signatures. Twitter replies to the announcement were overwhelmingly demanding Steam availability.
Why the hostility toward Epic exclusivity? A few of the common themes:
- Many PC gamers are deeply loyal Steam users who dislike needing multiple game launchers installed
- Concerns over data privacy – Steam has a better reputation than Epic in this department
- Resentment at "forced" adoption of the Epic Games Store to play desired titles
- General opposition toward exclusivity deals on PC as a "closed" ecosystem
However, while these petitions illustrate customer sentiment, they are unlikely to directly sway Square Enix‘s business agreements. The publisher likely received a sizable minimum guarantee from Epic in exchange for exclusivity.
Analyzing Square Enix‘s Incentives and Strategy
From Square Enix‘s perspective, securing an exclusivity deal with Epic aligned with their business interests in several ways:
- Immediate revenue boost – Epic provides upfront minimum guarantees to secure exclusives, representing "free money" for the developer
- Increased visibility – promotion on Epic Games Store can help drive awareness of new PC ports
- Minimum sales guarantees – Epic commits to making up the difference if actual sales fall below a threshold
- Infiltrating the PC market – Epic‘s store offers expanded distribution and revenue vs console-only
For Epic, the incentives are gaining marquee exclusive content to rapidly expand their user base and establishing the Epic Games Store as a viable Steam competitor.
Both parties gain mutual benefits – the core issue is that many fans prefer an open ecosystem with multi-store choices rather than a series of walled gardens.
Speculating on Kingdom Hearts‘ Steam Launch Timing
Although concrete details haven‘t been shared publicly, we can make some educated guesses on when Kingdom Hearts could break free from its Epic exclusivity based on typical industry practice:
- 6-12 months – Average exclusivity duration when not specified
- Holiday 2022 – A year-end release would attract more sales and publicity
- Early 2023 – Allows ~2 years of Epic exclusivity to make the deal more lucrative
My personal speculation is Kingdom Hearts will migrate to Steam in early 2023, roughly two years after debuting on Epic Games Store. This provides enough lead time for Epic to benefit while still giving Steam fans access in the foreseeable future.
But there‘s always a chance Square Enix could surprise us with an unannounced Steam launch this year. Wishful thinking for some perhaps!
The Outlook – Temporary Exclusivity, Lasting Availability
Timed exclusivity, while sometimes controversial, is likely here to stay as a common compromise between developers, publishers, and competing PC game stores.
However, permanent exclusivity benefits none of the major players. Epic wants to eventually see their exclusives broaden to Steam. Square Enix wants to tap into the massive Steam market. And fans want freedom of choice between stores.
With Kingdom Hearts, the vital context is that while the PC ports are temporarily exclusive to one store for a limited time, the series as a whole remains widely available across PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and mobile. So there are still plenty of avenues to journey through the Kingdom Hearts universe.
Based on historical data points, Kingdom Hearts coming to Steam following its exclusivity arrangement expiring seems not a matter of "if" but "when". My advice is try not to fret too much over temporary store wars, and rest easy knowing Sora, Donald, and Goofy will likely be embarking on PC adventures through both Epic and Steam soon enough.
