Stellar Blade Developer Addresses Criticism of Eve Artwork by Naughty Dog Artist

Naughty Dog’s character concept designer, Hyoung Taek Nam, recently found himself in the spotlight, and not entirely in a good way. He crafted some fan art for Eve, the main character in Stellar Blade, and shared it where the game’s official X (formerly Twitter) account could repost it. While many fans appreciated the creativity, some were less enthused, labeling Nam’s interpretation of Eve as “ugly” and “revolting.” In a move to counter the backlash, the game’s developer, Shift Up, decided to share more of Nam’s work, demonstrating their unwavering support.

Let’s dive right into the heart of the matter: it appears that the uproar wasn’t about the artwork’s technical skill. Instead, a vocal group of internet trolls simply didn’t resonate with this particular vision of Eve. The artwork in question showed Eve engaged in combat with a Naytiba—a scene vividly brought to life by Nam’s distinctive style.

Nam’s association with Naughty Dog might have stirred the pot even more. Known for their realistic artistic approach, some critics equated this style with a so-called ‘woke’ agenda. Naturally, this misunderstanding led to criticism over Nam’s portrayal of Eve.

Just a few days later, the Stellar Blade account added another of Nam’s pieces to their collection. This time, the art presented Eve with gentler, more delicate features. Alongside this new rendition was an open message addressing the controversy, emphasizing the significance of artistic style.

The response from Shift Up was clear: “Artist Nam Hyoung Taek has once again drawn Eve for us, and we’re truly grateful. We welcome all styles of fan art, including the previous one.” They continued to express their appreciation for the variety that fan interpretations bring, noting, “Fan art often showcases more of the artist’s style than the original, which is something we find quite important and delightful.”

Since its exclusive launch on PS5 in April, Stellar Blade has seen a steady stream of updates. These include enhancements for the PS5 Pro and crossover DLC from Nier: Automata, keeping the excitement alive for its dedicated fanbase.