Square Enix has responded to criticism surrounding the cover artwork for Kingdom Hearts Collection [1~3], denying claims that generative AI was used to create the controversial image. The company addressed the issue ahead of the collection's October 8 release on Nintendo Switch 2.

The collection was first announced during a Nintendo Direct presentation on June 9. Kingdom Hearts Collection [1~3] brings several games from the series together in a digital package for Nintendo's new console. The collection was previously available on other platforms as Kingdom Hearts Integrum Masterpiece.

Among the games included are Kingdom Hearts Final Mix and Kingdom Hearts 3 + ReMind, along with HD movie versions of other entries, including Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days. The collection is currently priced at $74.99, with both physical and digital pre-orders available through various retailers.

However, the artwork used to promote the collection quickly became a talking point among fans for the wrong reasons.

Artwork for the Kingdom Hearts franchise has long been closely associated with Tetsuya Nomura, the series director and lead character designer. Fans noticed several strange details in the new collection artwork and began questioning whether generative AI had been used to create or assist with the image.

One of the most obvious problems involved Donald Duck. In the artwork, Donald's left hand appeared to have five fingers instead of the character's usual four. The unusual detail immediately caught the attention of fans, particularly because incorrect hands and fingers have become one of the most commonly noticed problems in AI-generated artwork.

The criticism eventually led Square Enix to address the situation. Speaking to GameSpot, a company representative said Square Enix was aware of the feedback surrounding the artwork and acknowledged that there were problems with the assets.

However, the company firmly denied that generative AI was responsible. Instead, Square Enix said the mistakes were caused by "human error" and confirmed that the affected artwork had been updated.

The company has already made changes to some of the promotional material. In certain images, Donald's hand was hidden completely, while other versions show the character with his normal four fingers.

That has not completely ended the discussion, though. Fans have pointed out that other questionable details remain in some of the artwork, including the crowns on Sora's chain belt. As a result, some players continue to question how the final promotional images were created and reviewed before being released.

The controversy comes at a time when the use of generative AI in the entertainment industry remains a sensitive subject. Many artists and fans have pushed back against AI-generated content, particularly when companies do not clearly explain how the technology was used.

Beyond the artwork controversy, Kingdom Hearts fans have plenty of reasons to be interested in the upcoming collection. Square Enix also showed new footage from Kingdom Hearts 4 during the game's announcement. While there is still no release date for the highly anticipated sequel, the company confirmed that it will launch on Nintendo Switch 2 at the same time as other platforms.

More information about the series could also be coming soon. Disney has confirmed that a special Kingdom Hearts: Deep Dive panel will take place at D23 on August 14. The event will celebrate the franchise's upcoming 25th anniversary, although Square Enix and Disney have not revealed exactly what will be shown.

With Square Enix continuing to bring major games to Nintendo's latest console, including Final Fantasy 14, the performance of Kingdom Hearts Collection [1~3] will be another interesting test for the Switch 2. For now, though, the focus remains on the collection's controversial artwork and Square Enix's explanation that the mistakes were the result of human error, not generative AI.