Naughty Dog's concept artist sparked controversy after sharing artwork of Stellar Blade's protagonist, Eva, on X. Fans overwhelmingly criticized the design, deeming it unattractive and masculine, with many comments labeling it "ugly" and "terrible." The artwork was widely considered repulsive, and some accused the artist of portraying Eva in an "awakened" state.
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 of a video game trailer this year, surpassing even Concord's previous record. This negative reception contrasts sharply with the success of Stellar Blade earlier this year, a game whose popularity was significantly boosted by Eva's universally admired design. Shift Up's original portrayal of Eva was lauded by the gaming community for its beauty, making the new, drastically different design even more jarring to fans.
