Naughty Dog's concept artist sparked a backlash 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 depicting Eva in an "awakened" state, a term often used to describe a character's transformation into a less conventionally attractive form.
This controversy follows recent criticism of Naughty Dog's inclusion of explicit DEI content in Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, a sci-fi adventure whose trailer holds the record for most dislikes on a video game trailer. The negative reception contrasts sharply with the initial success of Stellar Blade, largely attributed to Eva's universally praised beauty and design by Shift Up, the game's original developer. The new design, by comparison, has been met with significant disapproval.
