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 depicting Eva in an "awakened" state.
This incident follows recent criticism of Naughty Dog's inclusion of explicit DEI content in Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, a sci-fi adventure whose trailer garnered a record number of dislikes, surpassing even Concord's earlier record. The controversy highlights a stark contrast between fan reception of Shift Up's original, universally praised design for Eva, a key factor in Stellar Blade's success, and this newly unveiled, negatively received concept art.
