Stellar Blade EVE: Evolution of 2024’s largest main woman

We already know from the Director of Stellar Blade himself, that EVE would be the solely playable character in Shift Up’s upcoming PS5 unique title. It has been 5 years since Challenge EVE – now Stellar Blade – was first introduced and EVE has developed over time.

Stellar Blade is without doubt one of the most anticipated large releases of 2024, and EVE is the sword-wielding poster lady whose outfits and fight have induced a surge in viral recognition. Given her new discovered recognition, we determined to piece collectively her evolution. Beginning along with her predecessor, EVE 06.

The unique EVE (now known as EVE 06) from the announcement trailer in 2019

Loopy proper? When the sport was initially introduced to be in improvement again in 2019 it was known as Challenge EVE. Moreover, the first-ever reveal trailer for Shift Up’s recreation – initially slated for a console / PC launch – featured a special model of EVE, known as EVE06. The EVE we all know from the advertising from the final 4 years is EVE07.

EVE06 within the first reveal of the Nano Go well with and Exospine in 2019 versus Key Artwork from 2024’s EVE07

Regardless of it being a special EVE, there are a lot of similarities in design. EVE06 even again in 2019, already had the Nano Go well with and an Exospine which is an enormous a part of EVE07’s design.

The Exospine idea was showcased within the unique 2019 reveal trailer that includes EVE06

Shift Up didn’t launch any additional video updates about Challenge EVE after their announcement trailer that includes EVE06 in April 2019. Followers must wait till Gstar2020 in November 2020 for his or her subsequent style of Challenge EVE. The video got here within the type of a prototype boss battle demo, and it marked the debut of EVE 07, the now central protagonist.

EVE’s new facial design was noticeably extra female and mild. What’s extra, she bodily appeared extra mature than the virtually childlike EVE 06. It might later grow to be properly documented that in 2020, Shift Up used 3D physique scans of Korean mannequin Shin Jae-Eun to create EVE’s physique. On the time, the mannequin herself shared on her YouTube. Nonetheless, Shin Jae-Eun merely named it her “Secret Challenge”. EVE’s face nonetheless, was created in-house.

Korean mannequin Shin Jae-Eun’s was 3D scanned to create EVE’s physique

Aside from a visible enchancment, the 2020 battle demo showcased lots of the mechanics we have seen within the Stellar Blade demo such because the blink, the slow-mo dodge and a degree of gore that took some players fortunately abruptly. On the time, comparisons had been made to 2B from Nier: Automata. Total, players had been extremely impressed for extra than simply the jiggle physics.

Regardless of the spectacular battle demo of 2020, Challenge EVE was nonetheless a comparatively small venture. Nonetheless, it caught the attention of Shuhei Yoshida, a former exec at Sony who facilitated a contract with PlayStation.

Because of the partnership, Shift Up gained entry to in depth help, full localization, QA testing and advertising. A 12 months into the partnership, Challenge EVE’s Story Trailer was showcased on State of Play in September 2022. Sony’s involvement had up till then not been recognized, and a few had thought the sport was lifeless. Nonetheless, the Story Trailer acquired rabid pleasure, with players impressed by the fight and the standard of the graphics.

Sony and Shift Up additionally introduced on the State of Play the renaming of the sport from Challenge EVE to Stellar Blade, and that it will be a PS5 unique. PS5 exclusives stay extremely uncommon, much more so a PS5 unique with a feminine protagonist.

EVE’s look within the State of Play in 2022, will not be drastically totally different to what we noticed within the Stellar Blade Demo launch in March 2024. Nonetheless, the reveal of in-game outfits by way of the Stellar Blade demo had a big impact on each social media and the gaming media at massive. One outfit specifically went viral on Twitter, EVE’s Stellar Blade Pores and skin Go well with. It’s one among 30 Stellar Blade outfits coming with the launch of the sport on April 26.

Whereas Challenge EVE/Stellar Blade was praised for his or her fight and visuals primarily over the course of the sport’s improvement, the Stellar Blade Pores and skin Go well with shifted the narrative in the direction of EVE’s bodily look.

In February 2024, Sport Director Hyung-Tae Kim confirmed in an interview with PushSquare that Shin Jae-Eun’s physique was used to create EVE. This information got here 4 years after the mannequin posted the video of her “Secret Challenge”.

When requested why he selected the mannequin, Hyung-Tae Kim mentioned their aim was to “provide you with essentially the most engaging trying physique to the person”. A couple of weeks after the interview, the unintentional early leak of the Stellar Blade demo led to individuals getting their fingers on the Pores and skin Go well with. The web went wild with clips of the pores and skin swimsuit in motion and EVE’s shares went by way of the roof.

EVE07 within the Challenge EVE boss battle demo from 2020 vs Stellar Blade demo from 2024

Shortly after IGN France posted an article which they’ve now apologised for. Within the article they attacked EVE, stating she was bland and a “doll sexualized by somebody who has by no means seen a girl”. The article – now edited – additionally mentioned EVE’s design didn’t standout when in comparison with Bayonetta or 2B from Nier Automata.

Per week later, IGN apologised for IGN France’s article, saying the preview for Stellar Blade “contained feedback that had been misplaced”, and that they “sincerely apologize”.

EVE 07 in Racer’s Excessive Outfit and Pores and skin Go well with Outfit in Stellar Blade Demo (Screenshots by esports.gg)

Even from the daybreak of the Challenge EVE venture, the builders Shift Up haven’t been coy. In actual fact, they have been very blunt. EVE is intentionally extremely bodily engaging, ever for the reason that design of EVE 06 again in 2019. They even did 3D physique scans of a mannequin to verify players would contemplate EVE the “most tasty trying physique”. Nonetheless, the gameplay and visuals are what have saved players’ consideration all through the 5 years of improvement.

These with a brief reminiscence and a affinity for scandal would possibly purely bear in mind Stellar Blade EVE for her Pores and skin Go well with. Nonetheless, within the years to come back, Stellar Blade’s EVE will be part of 2B, Tifa, Bayonetta and Tomb Raider within the ranks of iconic feminine characters who additionally occur to be fairly engaging.