Naughty Dog's concept artist sparked a backlash online after sharing artwork of Stellar Blade's protagonist, Eva, on X. Fans overwhelmingly criticized the design, deeming it unattractive and masculine, with many comments labeling it "ugly" and "terrible." The artwork was widely considered repulsive, and some accused the artist of depicting an "awakened" version of Eva.
This controversy follows recent criticism of Naughty Dog's inclusion of explicit DEI content in their upcoming game, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet. The trailer for this sci-fi adventure achieved a record number of dislikes, surpassing even Concord's earlier record.
The initial success of Stellar Blade was largely attributed to Eva's universally praised design, which was a significant departure from the negatively received concept art. The contrast highlights the strong reaction to the new, less conventionally attractive portrayal of the character.
