In Japan, QuackShot Starring Donald Duck was closely associated with branding used for Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse, as both games were developed and released by Sega one year apart from each other. Although the title screens for both games in the Japanese versions used their international titles, QuackShot was referred to as アイラブドナルドダック, or I Love Donald Duck, in various Japanese promotional materials, while the Japanese title for Castle of Illusion was アイラブミッキーマウス, or I Love Mickey Mouse. Following this trend, World of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck was released in Japan with the title アイラブ ミッキー＆ドナ, or I Love Mickey & Donald.

Both Castle of Illusion and QuackShot would be bundled together and re-released in two different compilations in the 1990s: one for the Genesis released internationally, and another for the Sega Saturn released as part of the Sega Ages series exclusively in Japan, which used the I Love branding.

During development of QuackShot, a level was implemented where Donald Duck could club baby seals as enemies. This horrified producers from the Disney side of development, who demanded Sega remove the stage from the final game.