The recent Battlefield 2042 update may have accidentally disclosed some forthcoming skins for the game – and many gamers aren’t happy that ‘Father Winter’ is coming to town.
Battlefield 2042’s Update #3 includes weekly missions, menu UI enhancements, and over 150 gameplay changes — but it also appears to feature a slew of new cosmetics. Some of the Specialist skins featured, as illustrated in the tweet below, are a touch outside of Battlefield’s more serious norm, such as a Father Winter skin for Boris, which sees him donning a Santa-like coat and a white beard.
At the time of writing, the skins have been taken from public view after appearing to be exposed too early, but the reaction to the Father Winter skin, in particular, has already been vocal from many players, who perceive it as a step too far outside of Battlefield’s design.
On Reddit, TheHuscarl wrote, “I have never seen such a strange juxtaposition in tone built into a game. It’s very odd, I would love to have seen the design discussions that went into this.”
On Twitter, DogInSuit wrote, “How is the mood supposed to be fun and lighthearted when the intro tried pushing a failed-state, billions of non-pats, and the devastating effects of climate change? If they wanted to make a game with funny, kid-catered skins – it shouldn’t have been battlefield.”
Many have compared the approach to Fortnite and other games-as-a-service, which routinely feature crazy cosmetics, which many fans appear to have hoped would not cross over into Battlefield’s current appearance.
There are, of course, two sides to the story, with some players arguing that those who aren’t fans of unrealistic skins should just avoid using them. ozner55 posted on Reddit, “Overall, the game might need a little more material. Even though it’s a silly Christmas tradition, I’m happy with it. Having new things to uncover is always a good thing.”
However, since the unveiling, a widespread request has been for the ability to deactivate other players’ funny skins, both for aesthetic reasons and because changes to character outlines might throw off how best to respond to seeing particular opponent characters. “PLEASE make it so I can prevent the visibility of custom skins,” tweeted Revenant333. “It’s OK to sell them, but let ME decide whether or not I want to view them. Please.”
There are, of course, two sides to the story, with some players arguing that those who aren’t fans of unrealistic skins should just avoid using them. ozner55 posted on Reddit, The game overall just needs a little more content. Even if it’s a goofy Christmas thing, I’m totally fine with that. Having new stuff to unlock is simply positive.”
However, since the unveiling, a widespread request has been for the ability to deactivate other players’ funny skins, both for aesthetic reasons and because changes to character outlines might throw off how best to respond to seeing particular opponent characters. “PLEASE make it so I can prevent the visibility of custom skins,” tweeted Revenant333. “It’s OK to sell them, but let ME decide whether or not I want to view them. Please.”
It remains to be seen if this is a one-time Christmas bonus, or if DICE intends to offer more outrageous skins in the future – but the first reaction is sure to be more controversial than the company would have intended for.
Battlefield 2042 has had a difficult launch overall, with launch day glitches and game tweaks generating enough criticism to make it one of Steam’s worst-reviewed titles just a few weeks after release.
