Capcom Disqualifies Street Fighter 6 Art Contest Winner Over AI Use

Capcom Disqualifies Street Fighter 6 Art Contest Winner Over AI Use

Capcom has announced the disqualification of one of the winners from its recent Street Fighter 6 art contest. The reason for the disqualification was a clear violation of the submission rules, specifically rule number 5, which strictly prohibits the use of generative AI and emphasizes the requirement for all entries to be original works.

In their official statement, Capcom thanked all participants for their entries. However, they confirmed that after a “thorough examination,” the problematic artwork was removed from the contest. While the company did not publicly disclose the specific artist’s name or the character featured in the disqualified piece, the gaming community has widely speculated that the fan art in question depicted the character Kimberly.

The controversy first came to light when a user on X (formerly Twitter) named Hoodratt conducted an investigation, highlighting potential AI involvement in three specific art submissions: one featuring Akuma, another Cammy, and the third, Kimberly. Following this public scrutiny and the subsequent backlash, the artist behind the Kimberly fan art reportedly deleted their social media accounts, further fueling suspicions.

The contest guidelines explicitly stated that all participants must submit original works that have not been previously published and, crucially, were not created using generative AI tools. Any breach of these conditions automatically results in the nullification of the entry. Despite the disqualification, the image will remain visible for public voting until the current phase of the contest concludes. Capcom has confirmed they will select a new illustration to replace the removed entry, though a specific timeline for this selection was not provided.

This incident underscores the ongoing debate within the creative community about the role of AI in art and highlights Capcom's firm stance on maintaining the integrity of their fan contests. For players and artists alike, it serves as a clear reminder of the importance of adhering to contest rules, especially concerning originality in an era where AI-generated content is becoming increasingly prevalent.