Naughty Dog's concept artist sparked a backlash online after sharing artwork of Stellar Blade's protagonist, Eva, on X. Fans overwhelmingly criticized the design, deeming it unattractive and masculine, with many comments describing the portrayal as "ugly" and "terrible." The artwork was widely considered repulsive, and accusations of the designer intentionally making Eva appear "awakened" were prevalent.
This incident follows recent controversy surrounding Naughty Dog's inclusion of explicit DEI content in their upcoming game, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet. The game's trailer garnered a record number of dislikes, surpassing even Concord's earlier record. This negative reception stands in stark contrast to the success of Stellar Blade earlier this year.
Stellar Blade's initial success was largely attributed to the universally praised design of its protagonist, Eva. Shift Up's original design of Eva was widely celebrated within the gaming community, highlighting the significant difference in reception between the original and the newly revealed concept art.
