The recent buzz surrounding the Kingdom Hearts Collection [I~III] box art for the Switch 2 version of the game has sparked a heated debate among fans. At first glance, the artwork featuring Donald, Goofy, Mickey, and various versions of Sora seems innocuous, but a closer inspection reveals intriguing clues. The left hand of Donald Duck, for instance, has five fingers, which is unusual for a Disney character, and this is just the tip of the iceberg. Fans have pointed out other peculiar visual details, such as gears on a clock tower, the mesh of Donald's zipper, and treads on Sora's boots, all of which seem to hint at the involvement of generative AI. The debate has raged on, with some arguing that the image is a composite of AI-generated parts, while others believe it is a result of AI upscaling the original artwork. However, a compelling theory has emerged, thanks to the insights of online artist DekuDraws, who has a deep understanding of the style of Kingdom Hearts designer Tetsuya Nomura. DekuDraws posits that the full illustration was intended to be compiled as it is, with Donald's 'four-fingered' hand hidden behind Sora, and that AI was used to separate the cast for alternate box art and give their 3D models a hand-drawn look. This theory not only solves the mystery of the box art but also sheds light on the potential use of AI in the gaming industry. The speculation comes at a time when Square Enix, the publisher of Kingdom Hearts, has been vocal about its plans to embrace generative AI, with its CEO expressing a desire to leverage the technology for various aspects of game development, including quality assurance. However, the company has also been downsizing its North American publishing operation, raising questions about the balance between innovation and cost-cutting. The debate surrounding the box art and Square Enix's stance on AI highlights the complex relationship between technology and creativity in the gaming industry. While AI has the potential to revolutionize game development, it also raises concerns about the role of human artists and the potential devaluation of their work. As the gaming industry continues to evolve, it will be fascinating to see how AI and human creativity intersect and shape the future of the medium.
