Naughty Dog’s character concept designer, Hyoung Taek Nam, found himself under the microscope after some fans critiqued his fan art of Eve, the central figure in Stellar Blade. The artwork found its way onto the game’s X (previously known as Twitter) account, where it unfortunately drew some harsh words. Fans labeled Nam’s take on Eve as "ugly" and even "revolting." In light of these criticisms, Stellar Blade’s developer, Shift Up, responded by releasing more of Nam’s creations.
Stellar Blade Developer Embraces Fan Art Contributions
The initial wave of criticism seemed less about Nam’s artistic skills and more about a personal distaste for his portrayal of Eve. The art in question displayed Eve battling a Naytiba, which you can view in the original shared tweet.
Adding fuel to the fire is Nam’s association with Naughty Dog, a studio known for its realistic art styles. This has led a particular segment of fans to mistakenly associate realism with being "woke," prompting them to criticize Nam’s interpretation of Eve predictably.
Just a couple of days after the initial backlash, the Stellar Blade account showcased a second piece of Nam’s fan art. This time, it was a portrait of Eve that featured gentler features compared to the previous artwork. The accompanying message addressed the criticism head-on, emphasizing the value of artistic style.
Shift Up stated, “We’re very grateful for Artist Nam Hyoung Taek’s portrayal of Eve once more. We welcome all fan art, even in the style of the earlier piece.”
The developer goes on to highlight the significance of personal style in fan art, “It’s not uncommon for fan art to showcase more of the artist’s own style than the original work, and we see that as a vital and enjoyable aspect of art.”
Since its exclusive launch on PS5 back in April, Stellar Blade has seen a series of updates. These include enhancements for the PS5 Pro and a crossover DLC with Nier: Automata, keeping the game fresh and engaging for its community.
