A concept artist from Naughty Dog recently shared artwork of Stellar Blade's protagonist, Eva, on X, sparking significant backlash from fans. Many criticized the design as unattractive and masculine, using terms like "ugly" and "terrible" in their comments. The artwork was widely deemed repulsive, with accusations that the designer intentionally created a less appealing, "awakened" version of Eva.
This incident follows similar controversies surrounding Naughty Dog's inclusion of explicit DEI content in their recently unveiled game, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet. The trailer for this sci-fi adventure garnered a record number of dislikes, surpassing even Concord's earlier record.
This contrasts sharply with the positive reception of Shift Up's original design of Eva in Stellar Blade. Her beauty was a major factor in the game's success, making her a beloved character among players. The stark difference between the original and the newly shared design highlights the significant impact of character aesthetics on a game's reception.