Naughty Dog's concept artist sparked controversy after sharing artwork of Stellar Blade's protagonist, Eva, on X. The artwork depicts Eva with a masculine appearance, prompting widespread criticism from fans. Comments flooded the post, overwhelmingly describing the design as unattractive, ugly, and even repulsive. Many accused the artist of making Eva appear "awakened," referencing a current trend in gaming character design.
This incident follows recent criticism of Naughty Dog's inclusion of explicit DEI content in their upcoming game, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet. The game's trailer holds the record for most dislikes on a video game trailer, surpassing even Concord's earlier record. This negative reception contrasts sharply with the success of Stellar Blade, a game whose popularity was largely attributed to Eva's universally praised beauty. Shift Up's original design of Eva was widely celebrated by the gaming community, highlighting the significant difference in reception between the two versions of the character.
