Naughty Dog's concept artist sparked a backlash online after sharing artwork of Stellar Blade's protagonist, Eva. Fans overwhelmingly criticized the artist's depiction of Eva, deeming her appearance unattractive and masculine, with many comments labeling the design as "ugly" and "terrible." The artwork was widely considered repulsive, and accusations of the designer intentionally making Eva appear "awakened" were prevalent.

This incident follows recent criticism of Naughty Dog's inclusion of explicit DEI content in their upcoming game, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet. The trailer for this sci-fi adventure garnered a record number of dislikes, surpassing even Concord's earlier record. This negative reception contrasts sharply with the success of Stellar Blade, a game largely attributed to the universally praised beauty of its protagonist, Eva. Shift Up's original design of Eva was a significant factor in the game's popularity.