Square Enix has formally addressed a recent controversy over new artwork for the Kingdom Hearts Collection 1-3, stating the image in question was created by its development team and not generated by artificial intelligence.
The publisher confirmed the flawed image has been replaced after social media users raised concerns about apparent mistakes and suspected the use of generative AI.
Background
The Kingdom Hearts franchise, a long-running action-RPG collaboration between Square Enix and Disney that debuted in 2002, has been released across multiple platforms and generations.
The series’ most recent main entry, Kingdom Hearts III, launched on January 29, 2019.
Franchise projects are led creatively by Tetsuya Nomura and produced by Square Enix, which continues to manage re-releases and compilation packages for fans and new players alike.
What Square Enix said
In response to inquiries, a Square Enix public relations representative told reporters the assets were produced internally and that the issues were the result of human error.
The statement was paraphrased by company staff to explain that no generative AI tools were used in creating the artwork and that quality control measures were applied after the problem was identified.
Square Enix emphasized the importance of quality in its artwork and branding materials and confirmed that updated assets have been implemented where appropriate.
That replacement has already taken place, according to the company’s communications.
Industry context
Accusations of AI use in promotional art have become a recurrent topic across the games and wider entertainment industries, driven by public scrutiny of visual anomalies and the growing role of generative tools.
In this case, Square Enix’s assertion that the image was human-made and subsequently corrected provides a clear resolution: the company replaced the contested visual and affirmed internal responsibility for the error.
What this means for players
For consumers tracking Kingdom Hearts releases and store listings, official assets are typically updated across storefronts and publisher channels.
Fans looking for the latest versions of collections and promotional materials should consult Square Enix’s official channels and digital storefronts such as the Nintendo eShop for authoritative images and information.
The publisher confirmed the flawed image has been replaced after social media users raised concerns about apparent mistakes and suspected the use of generative AI.
Background
The Kingdom Hearts franchise, a long-running action-RPG collaboration between Square Enix and Disney that debuted in 2002, has been released across multiple platforms and generations.
The series’ most recent main entry, Kingdom Hearts III, launched on January 29, 2019.
Franchise projects are led creatively by Tetsuya Nomura and produced by Square Enix, which continues to manage re-releases and compilation packages for fans and new players alike.
What Square Enix said
In response to inquiries, a Square Enix public relations representative told reporters the assets were produced internally and that the issues were the result of human error.
The statement was paraphrased by company staff to explain that no generative AI tools were used in creating the artwork and that quality control measures were applied after the problem was identified.
Square Enix emphasized the importance of quality in its artwork and branding materials and confirmed that updated assets have been implemented where appropriate.
That replacement has already taken place, according to the company’s communications.
Industry context
Accusations of AI use in promotional art have become a recurrent topic across the games and wider entertainment industries, driven by public scrutiny of visual anomalies and the growing role of generative tools.
In this case, Square Enix’s assertion that the image was human-made and subsequently corrected provides a clear resolution: the company replaced the contested visual and affirmed internal responsibility for the error.
What this means for players
For consumers tracking Kingdom Hearts releases and store listings, official assets are typically updated across storefronts and publisher channels.
Fans looking for the latest versions of collections and promotional materials should consult Square Enix’s official channels and digital storefronts such as the Nintendo eShop for authoritative images and information.
