Kingdom Hearts box art: AI involved or not? What does this mean for players?
Intelligence Summary
- The recent controversy over Kingdom Hearts Collection [I~III] box art for Switch 2 raises questions about possible AI use.
In brief
- The box art for Kingdom Hearts Collection [I~III] on Switch 2 shows signs of possible generative AI.
- Tetsuya Nomura, the original artist, did not use AI for the original illustrations, but the final version appears to have been upscaled with AI.
- Fans have spotted notable errors, such as Donald Duck having five fingers, which is unusual for the franchise.
GAME-scanner analysis
The recent revelations about the box art for Kingdom Hearts Collection [I~III] have sparked a lively debate within the gaming community. Fans have noticed unusual visual errors, including the bizarre depiction of Donald Duck's hands, which have five fingers instead of the usual four. This has led to speculation about the use of generative AI in the design. According to various sources, including a fan tweet, it appears that the original artwork was created by Tetsuya Nomura, but the version used for the box art may have been upscaled using AI technology. This raises questions about the authenticity of the artwork and the role of technology in creative processes in game development.
What does this mean for players?
For fans of the Kingdom Hearts franchise, this controversy may create a sense of unease. The debate over AI use in art raises broader questions about the future of creative expression in the gaming industry. Players may wonder whether the quality of artwork in future titles could be affected by technology, and whether this could put the unique style and vision of artists like Nomura at risk. Community reactions could also influence how developers handle AI in their creative processes going forward.
Timeline
June 9, 2026: The box art for Kingdom Hearts Collection [I~III] on Switch 2 is revealed, sparking discussion about possible AI involvement.
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Sources
Tweet van @Ratbastard84232Tweet van @Ratbastard84232So regarding the claims that Nomura used A.I to create this artwork, that is not what happened. It seems far more likely that the original artwork was drawn entirely by Nomura, but the version used for box art or promotional material was later upscaled using AI You can see… pic.twitter.com/JhYhCsvppi — Dengo – عبدالله (@DENGOJIN) June 9, 2026
Tweet van @DENGOJINTweet van @DENGOJINSo regarding the claims that Nomura used A.I to create this artwork, that is not what happened. It seems far more likely that the original artwork was drawn entirely by Nomura, but the version used for box art or promotional material was later upscaled using AI You can see… pic.twitter.com/JhYhCsvppi — Dengo – عبدالله (@DENGOJIN) June 9, 2026
Tweet van @DekuDrawsTweet van @DekuDrawsSo regarding the claims that Nomura used A.I to create this artwork, that is not what happened. It seems far more likely that the original artwork was drawn entirely by Nomura, but the version used for box art or promotional material was later upscaled using AI You can see… pic.twitter.com/JhYhCsvppi — Dengo – عبدالله (@DENGOJIN) June 9, 2026
Tweet van @DekuDrawsTweet van @DekuDrawsSo regarding the claims that Nomura used A.I to create this artwork, that is not what happened. It seems far more likely that the original artwork was drawn entirely by Nomura, but the version used for box art or promotional material was later upscaled using AI You can see… pic.twitter.com/JhYhCsvppi — Dengo – عبدالله (@DENGOJIN) June 9, 2026