Naughty Dog's concept artist sparked a heated online debate after sharing artwork of Stellar Blade's protagonist, Eva, on X. Many fans reacted negatively, criticizing the design as unattractive and masculine, with comments describing it as "ugly" and "terrible." Several responses even went so far as to label the art "repulsive," suggesting the designer had made Eva appear "awakened."
This controversy 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 overwhelmingly positive response to the original Stellar Blade, a game whose success was largely attributed to the universally praised beauty of its protagonist, Eva. The Shift Up studio's original design of Eva was a significant factor in the game's popularity.
