The controversial key artwork for Kingdom Hearts Collection 1-3 didn’t comprise any AI-generated supplies and was truly the results of “human error,” in accordance to a brand new assertion from Square Enix.
Followers have been attempting to unlock the thriller behind some unusual and regarding artwork posted by the writer because it was revealed in June. The illustration in query arrived alongside the reveal that Kingdom Hearts Collection 1-3 would quickly come to PC, Nintendo Change 2, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Sequence X | S, nevertheless it did not take lengthy for gamers to discover a couple of worrying particulars.
Social media posts following the announcement shortly took purpose on the chain on Mickey Mouse’s Keyblade, the fingers on the Traverse City clocktower, and the small print on the underside of Sora’s footwear. The actual canary within the coal mine, although, have been Donald Duck’s fingers, with one that includes 4 fingers, whereas the opposite featured 5. These supposed items of proof had followers believing Square Enix used synthetic intelligence to generate further particulars for an present artwork piece, however the writer has lastly chimed in to refute these claims.
This seems Ai generated or Ai enhanced, are you able to make an announcement relating to this? Very disillusioned to see this. pic.twitter.com/IMhwrhB0Y3
— Vexmyx (@vexmyx) June 9, 2026
In an announcement shared with GameSpot, a Square Enix consultant mentioned that the writer has heard the suggestions and made modifications the place essential. Extra importantly, although, the message acknowledged that no genAI was used for any model of the picture.
“We’re conscious of suggestions relating to current Kingdom Hearts visuals,” the Square Enix spokesperson informed the positioning through telephone name. “These property have been created by our growth group with out using generative AI, and the problems resulted from human error.
“High quality is extraordinarily necessary to us, and up to date property have been applied the place acceptable.”
Square Enix didn’t make clear how the artwork got here to be within the first place. Moreover, as talked about by GameSpot, the up to date artwork does appear to have fastened Donald’s hand, however different particulars, comparable to that muddy-looking clocktower and Sora’s footwear, stay. Both means, not everyone seems to be pleased with the reason.
“We’ve discovered a lot of the artwork that was retrofitted to make the picture that I dunno if anybody was arguing that the entire picture was AI. It’s simply sloppy and dangerous,” one fan on Reddit said.
“They may as properly simply scrap this and make new cowl artwork at this level,” one other added. “Even when it is not AI-generated, it is undoubtedly one of many worst KH cowl arts. The composition simply seems to be lazy.”
“It was undoubtedly AI,” one X/Twitter consumer suggested. “I really like Kingdom Hearts and Square Enix however come on. There’s two variations of the image, one the place the characters are separated and one the place they are not, and the one the place they are not is clear they used AI for it, which prompted it to make additional fingers.”
Kingdom Hearts Collection 1-3 comes to PC, Change 2, PS5, and Xbox Sequence X | S October 8, 2026. Within the meantime, you possibly can see the newest on Kingdom Hearts 4, which reappeared shortly after the gathering was introduced.
Michael Cripe is a contract author with IGN. He is finest recognized for his work at websites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Ensure to give him a comply with on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).