The main character concept designer from Naughty Dog recently shared artwork on Stellar Blade's official X account, sparking significant feedback from fans. Many expressed dissatisfaction with Hyun-taek's portrayal of Eva, criticizing the concept art for giving her a masculine appearance. A large number of comments described this version of the Stellar Blade protagonist as unattractive and even repulsive, with some accusing the Naughty Dog designer of making Eva "awakened."
This reaction comes on the heels of Naughty Dog facing criticism for incorporating explicit Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) content in their recently unveiled game, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet. The trailer for this sci-fi adventure garnered the highest number of dislikes for a video game trailer this year, surpassing the record previously held by Concord.
Stellar Blade, developed by Shift Up, enjoyed immense success upon its release earlier this year, largely attributed to the universal appeal of its protagonist, Eve. Her objectively beautiful design was a significant factor in the game's popularity, in stark contrast to the new, less favorably received design of Eva by Naughty Dog. The original design of Eve by Shift Up was well-received and celebrated by the gaming community.
