Stellar Blade Fans Allege Ugly Character Design

Naughty Dog's concept artist sparked a backlash 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 portraying Eva in an "awakened" state, a term often associated with controversial character redesigns.

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 holds the record for most dislikes on a video game trailer. The negative reception contrasts sharply with the original Stellar Blade's success, largely attributed to Eva's universally admired design. Shift Up's initial portrayal of Eva was praised for its beauty, making the new, drastically different design even more contentious.