Square Enix blames 'human error' for Kingdom Hearts Collection's weird key art, denies AI use

Square Enix has officially responded to accusations that the key art for Kingdom Hearts Collection 1-3 was AI-generated, saying the issues came down to human error and that no generative AI was involved at any stage.

The controversy kicked off in June when the collection was announced for PC, Nintendo Switch 2, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S alongside art that immediately raised red flags. Fans pointed to a misshapen chain on Mickey's Keyblade, strange hands on the Traverse Town clocktower, and odd details on Sora's shoes — but the smoking gun was Donald Duck's hands, one with four fingers and one with five. In a statement given to GameSpot, a Square Enix spokesperson said the assets were created by the development team without generative AI, and that updated versions have been implemented where appropriate. Donald's hand has since been fixed, but the clocktower and Sora's shoes apparently remain unchanged.

Kingdom Hearts Collection 1-3 bundles the first three mainline entries in Square Enix and Disney's long-running action RPG series, which spans a notoriously sprawling continuity across dozens of platforms. The collection's multiplatform rollout — notably including Switch 2 — is a significant move for a franchise that has historically been fragmented across PlayStation, Xbox, PC, and mobile. The AI suspicion fits a broader pattern of fan scrutiny toward publishers following several high-profile cases of undisclosed AI use in promotional materials across the industry.

Not everyone is buying the explanation. Reddit users called the art "sloppy and bad" regardless of how it was made, with some suggesting Square Enix should scrap it entirely and start fresh. On X, some fans remain convinced AI was involved, pointing to two versions of the image where characters appear separated or grouped together. Kingdom Hearts Collection 1-3 launches October 8, 2026.