Naughty Dog's concept artist shared artwork of Stellar Blade's Eva on X, sparking a swift and overwhelmingly negative reaction from fans. Many criticized the design as unattractive and masculine, with comments frequently describing it as "ugly" and "terrible," even "repulsive." Several commenters suggested the design depicted an "awakened" Eva, implying a significant departure from her original appearance.
This controversy follows recent criticism of Naughty Dog's inclusion of explicit DEI content in Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, a sci-fi adventure whose trailer broke the record for most dislikes, surpassing even Concord's previous record. The negative reception contrasts sharply with the success of Stellar Blade earlier this year. A major factor in the game's popularity was its protagonist, Eva, whose objectively beautiful design garnered widespread praise from the gaming community. The new design, a stark contrast to Shift Up's original vision, highlights a significant shift in fan perception.
