Square Enix Says Odd Kingdom Hearts Switch 2 Art Was Human Error, Not AI

Square Enix insists its strange Kingdom Hearts Switch 2 cover art — including Donald Duck with the wrong number of fingers — was human error, not AI.

Donald Duck ended up with the wrong number of fingers on the Kingdom Hearts Collection box art for Nintendo Switch 2, and the internet noticed. The unusual artwork sparked immediate speculation that Square Enix had used generative AI tools to produce the promotional image, a concern that has become increasingly common in the games industry. Square Enix pushed back against that interpretation, stating that the artwork was not AI-generated and that the anatomical oddities, including Donald's uneven finger count, resulted from human error during the production process. The company did not specify which step of the process introduced the mistakes. The box art has reportedly since been updated, according to Nintendo Life. The episode unfolded around the release of marketing materials for the Kingdom Hearts Collection on Nintendo's Switch 2 platform.

Why it matters

The incident reflects broader anxieties in the gaming community about studios quietly adopting AI-generated art, making even ordinary production errors subject to intense scrutiny. How publishers handle and communicate such controversies can affect player trust.

What's next

The updated box art for the Kingdom Hearts Collection on Switch 2 is reportedly already in circulation.

Key facts

• Donald Duck was depicted with an uneven or incorrect number of fingers on the Kingdom Hearts Switch 2 collection cover art
• The artwork prompted public accusations that Square Enix had used generative AI to produce it
• Square Enix denied using generative AI tools for the artwork
• The company attributed the errors to 'human error' in the production process
• The box art has reportedly been updated following the controversy
• The collection in question is the Kingdom Hearts franchise compilation for Nintendo Switch 2

Bias & framing notes

Coverage across sources is largely consistent on the facts, but depth is minimal — Kotaku's report is reduced to a single quip about Donald's fingers, offering no additional detail. GamesRadar and Softonic add Square Enix's specific phrasing around 'human error' and 'generative tools.' No source provides Square Enix's full statement or details on how the error occurred, leaving the company's explanation largely unverified beyond their own assertion.

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