Stellar Blade fans have accused Naughty Dog's character designer of intentionally uglifying Eve

Naughty Dog's concept artist sparked a heated online debate after sharing artwork of Stellar Blade's protagonist, Eva, on X. The artwork depicted Eva with a more masculine appearance, prompting widespread criticism from fans. Many comments described the design as unattractive, ugly, and even repulsive, with some accusing the artist of making Eva appear "awakened."

This incident follows recent controversy surrounding Naughty Dog's inclusion of explicit DEI content in Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, a sci-fi adventure whose trailer holds the record for most dislikes on a video game trailer. The negative reaction to the Stellar Blade artwork suggests a potential pattern of design choices causing significant backlash.

The original design of Eva, created by Shift Up, was a key factor in Stellar Blade's success earlier this year, with her beauty widely praised by gamers. This stark contrast between the well-received original and the newly presented concept art highlights the sensitivity surrounding character design and the potential impact of artistic choices on fan reception.