Square Enix has issued a statement clarifying that the controversial key art for the upcoming Kingdom Hearts Collection 1-3 was the result of "human error" and not generative artificial intelligence. The artwork, which accompanied the announcement of the collection's release on PC, Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, drew significant fan scrutiny shortly after its reveal.
Players began pointing out several discrepancies within the illustration, including oddities with Mickey Mouse's Keyblade, the clocktower in Traverse Town, and the details on Sora's shoes. Most notably, Donald Duck's hands were depicted with both four and five fingers, leading many to suspect the use of AI in generating or enhancing the art.
A Square Enix representative confirmed to GameSpot that the company is aware of the feedback and has made necessary adjustments. However, the spokesperson explicitly stated that "these assets were created by our development team without the use of generative AI, and the issues resulted from human error."
While Square Enix has not elaborated on the specific process that led to the artwork's anomalies, the publisher emphasized that "quality is extremely important to us, and updated assets have been implemented where appropriate." Reports indicate that the updated version of the art has corrected Donald Duck's hand, but other perceived issues, such as the clocktower's appearance, remain unchanged.
The explanation has been met with mixed reactions from the community. Some fans expressed disappointment with the quality of the art regardless of its origin, with one Reddit user commenting that "the composition just looks lazy" and suggesting the entire piece should be redone. Others on X (formerly Twitter) remain skeptical, with one user asserting, "It was definitely AI. I love Kingdom Hearts and Square Enix but come on."
Kingdom Hearts Collection 1-3 is scheduled to launch on October 8, 2026. Information regarding Kingdom Hearts 4 has also recently surfaced.