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. Many fans reacted negatively, criticizing the artist's depiction of Eva as unattractive and masculine. The majority of comments described the new design as ugly and unappealing, even repulsive. Some accused the artist of deliberately making Eva appear "awakened," a term often associated with certain aesthetic trends.

This controversy follows recent criticism of Naughty Dog's inclusion of explicit DEI content in their upcoming game, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet. The game's trailer holds the record for most dislikes of a video game trailer this year, surpassing even Concord's previous record.

The original design of Stellar Blade's protagonist, created by Shift Up, was widely praised for its beauty and was a significant factor in the game's success. The stark contrast between the two designs highlights the differing aesthetic preferences within the gaming community.