Naughty Dog's concept artist sparked a heated online debate after sharing artwork of Stellar Blade's protagonist, Eva, on X. The artwork, depicting a more masculine version of Eva, drew overwhelmingly negative feedback. Many fans deemed the design unattractive, using terms like "ugly" and "terrible" to describe it. Several comments even suggested the design was intentionally "unappealing" or "off-putting."
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 any game trailer this year, surpassing even Concord's previous record.
The contrast between this new design and Eva's original, widely praised appearance is striking. Shift Up's initial design of Eva was a significant factor in Stellar Blade's success, with her beauty earning her widespread fan adoration. The negative reaction to the new concept art highlights the importance of character design in shaping player perception and a game's overall reception.
