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, describing it as unattractive, masculine, and even "ugly" and "terrible." Many comments referred to the art as repulsive and accused the artist of portraying Eva in an unappealing, "awakened" state.
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. The negative reaction to the Eva artwork highlights the stark contrast between this new interpretation and the original, widely praised design by Shift Up. The initial design of Eva was a significant factor in Stellar Blade's success, with her beauty earning her widespread fan appreciation. The new design, however, appears to have missed the mark with the gaming community.