Square Enix Says Controversial Kingdom Hearts Collection Art Was the Result of ‘Human Error,’ Not Generative AI
Square Enix has addressed controversy surrounding the key art for Kingdom Hearts Collection 1-3, stating that the problematic illustration was created entirely by humans and does not contain any AI-generated materials. The publisher attributed the visual issues to “human error” rather than algorithmic generation.
The controversy began in June when Kingdom Hearts Collection 1-3 was announced for PC, Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. Shortly after the reveal, fans on social media identified several concerning visual anomalies in the promotional artwork, including irregularities in Mickey Mouse’s Keyblade chain, distorted hands on the Traverse Town clocktower, and other anatomical inconsistencies that sparked speculation about AI involvement.
These types of visual defects—particularly malformed hands and chains—are commonly associated with AI-generated imagery, leading the gaming community to question whether Square Enix had used generative AI tools. Square Enix’s statement clarifies that the artwork resulted from traditional human artistic creation, with visual errors stemming from design mistakes or oversights in the process.
The Kingdom Hearts Collection 1-3 represents a major multi-platform release bringing the popular series to new hardware, making the visual presentation and public perception of marketing materials particularly important for the publisher.