Arknights Endfield fans suspect Happy Lemon used AI to upscale game artwork in promotional material for an ongoing drink collaboration. Happy Lemon has yet to comment, but has removed the alleged AI-enhanced ad from their website.
Arknights Endfield Fans Suspect Happy Lemon Used AI in Collab Promo
Happy Lemon Takes Down Alleged AI-Enhanced Ad
Arknights Endfield fans on social media shared their frustration over Happy Lemon USA’s suspected use of generative AI to upscale an ad for an ongoing drink collaboration. The Taiwan-based drink franchise recently partnered with Arknights for a May 13-June 24 collaboration featuring exclusive merchandise and in-game rewards available in participating stores in the United States.
Ads for the collaboration went up on Happy Lemon USA’s website, one of which fans quickly alleged was an AI-enhanced repost of an existing ad. They also expressed their confusion about why Happy Lemon supposedly used gen AI to edit existing promo material, while some suggested that the original image was reprocessed with gen AI to improve resolution.
According to fan observations, the new ad rendered the game’s beloved characters unrecognizable. They pointed out that gen AI misspelled the game’s title from "Arknights" to "Arrknights", and "Endfield" to "Endfied."
The ad has been taken down and replaced with the original, unedited version. Happy Lemon has yet to officially address the claims.
Fans did not blame developer Hypergryph for the ads, but suggested tighter quality control for the game’s promotional materials. Hypergryph came under fire for alleged use of gen AI in February 2026, after players spotted extra fingers in two in-game illustrations, despite some fans’ claims that they were due to human error. The studio did not address the allegations, but quietly corrected the images.
Limited Drink Collaboration and Upcoming Fan Event
Two game-exclusive combo sets, with four themed flavor options and limited merchandise, are currently available in participating Happy Lemon stores in the United States. Hypergryph has also invited fans to visit the Happy Lemon Convoy coming to San Diego on May 23, which will feature on-site activities and Arknights-themed experiences.
Sources:
Arknights: Endfield x Happy Lemon collaboration coming soon
Arknights Endfield Fan Discussion on Reddit
Arknights: Endfield Is The Latest Game Embroiled In AI Controversy
