Stellar Blade Fans Accuse Naughty Dog Designer of Intentional Ugliness

Naughty Dog's concept artist sparked controversy after posting artwork of Stellar Blade's protagonist, Eva, on X. The depiction, shared on the game's official account, received overwhelmingly negative feedback. Fans criticized the design as unattractive and masculine, with many comments labeling it "ugly" and "terrible." Several described the artwork as repulsive and accused the artist of portraying Eva in an "awakened" state.

This incident follows recent criticism of Naughty Dog for incorporating DEI elements into their upcoming game, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet. The trailer for this sci-fi adventure garnered a record number of dislikes, surpassing even Concord's previous record. This negative reception stands in stark contrast to the positive response Stellar Blade received upon its release, largely attributed to the universally praised beauty of its protagonist, Eva. Shift Up's original design of Eva was a significant factor in the game's success, making the new, drastically different design even more jarring to fans.