Former Disney CEO Michael Eisner can’t remember why he green-lit Kingdom Hearts
Former Walt Disney CEO Michael Eisner has admitted that he cannot recall why he approved the pitch for Kingdom Hearts, the beloved Square Enix video game series that launched on PlayStation 2 in 2002. The confession came during a panel in New York where Eisner was promoting Delphi Interactive, a video game company in which he is a major investor.
Reporter Stephen Totilo caught up with the 84-year-old businessman after the panel and asked if he remembered giving the go-ahead for Kingdom Hearts, which had been pitched to him in Tokyo. Eisner’s response was simply: “No.”
The revelation is somewhat ironic given that Kingdom Hearts has become a culturally significant franchise beloved by millions of players worldwide since its launch over two decades ago. The series’ Disney-Square Enix collaboration produced numerous sequels and spin-offs across multiple platforms, cementing it as one of gaming’s most enduring properties. That Eisner, who was instrumental in approving this major partnership between two entertainment giants, has no memory of the decision speaks to either the passage of time or the volume of business decisions executives at his level must make.