Hyoung Taek Nam, known for his role as a character concept designer at Naughty Dog, recently found himself in the crosshairs of some fan criticism following his artistic rendition of Eve, the lead protagonist of the game Stellar Blade. Nam’s artwork, featuring a unique take on Eve, was shared by the game’s official account on X (formerly known as Twitter), prompting a wave of backlash from some fans who labeled the portrayal as “ugly” and “revolting.” In a show of support, Stellar Blade’s developer, Shift Up, decided to share more of Nam’s artwork in response.
Shift Up has made it clear they are fully supportive of fan art in general, stating they’re “always welcome” to interpretations of their characters. The original backlash seemed less about the actual quality of Nam’s artistry and more about a small number of detractors expressing their dislike for his version of Eve. Nam’s artwork depicted Eve engaged in battle with a Naytiba, showcasing his distinctive style.
However, it seems Nam’s ties to Naughty Dog—a studio known for its focus on realism—may have intensified the criticism. This group of critics confused realistic art styles with being overly trend-driven or “woke,” as it’s sometimes termed. Given this dynamic, the negative reactions to Nam’s art come as no real surprise.
A few days later, the Stellar Blade team decided to share another piece of fan art by Nam. This second piece portrayed Eve with softer features and was accompanied by a response addressing the initial criticism and emphasizing the value of artistic style. “Artist Nam Hyoung Taek has once again drawn Eve for us,” Shift Up shared. “We’re very grateful for this, but we always welcome fan art in the style of the previous one.”
They continued by explaining that fan art often reflects more of the artist’s personal style than the original designs, and they see this individuality as both important and enjoyable. In the world of fan creations, it’s not uncommon for artists to leave their own mark on popular characters, which adds to the richness and diversity of the community’s output.
For those following the developments in the world of Stellar Blade, the game made its debut on the PS5 back in April and has seen several updates, including enhancements specifically for the PS5 Pro and a crossover DLC featuring content from Nier: Automata.
