
Naughty Dog's concept artist sparked a heated online debate after sharing artwork of Stellar Blade's protagonist, Eva, on X. The artwork depicted a significantly different, more masculine interpretation of Eva, prompting widespread 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," possibly reflecting a controversial trend.
This incident follows recent criticism of Naughty Dog's inclusion of explicit DEI content in Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, a game whose trailer garnered a record number of dislikes. The contrast is striking, considering the original Eva design from Shift Up, responsible for Stellar Blade's success earlier this year, was widely praised for its beauty and contributed significantly to the game's popularity. The stark difference in reception highlights the sensitivity surrounding character design and the impact of artistic choices on fan perception.