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

Naughty Dog's concept artist sparked controversy after sharing artwork of Stellar Blade's protagonist, Eva, on X. The design, featuring a more masculine appearance, drew overwhelmingly negative feedback. Fans flooded the comments section with criticism, describing the portrayal as unattractive, ugly, and even repulsive. Many comments suggested the design made Eva appear "awakened," a term often used to describe characters with exaggerated or non-traditional features.

This incident follows recent criticism of Naughty Dog's inclusion of explicit DEI content in Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet. The trailer for this sci-fi adventure game garnered a record number of dislikes, surpassing even Concord's earlier record. This negative reaction contrasts sharply with the positive reception of Stellar Blade's original Eva design, which was widely praised for its beauty and was a significant factor in the game's success. The Shift Up studio's original design of Eva was a clear fan favorite, highlighting the significant difference in aesthetic appeal between the two versions.