In light of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, Battlefield 2042 has had one of its reward skins removed. Though this is the first change the game has made as it relates to current events, EA and developer DICE have updated and continue to update Battlefield 2042, even delaying its first season to make way for fixes.
Battlefield 2042‘s short life has been marred by controversy and negative reception from both consumers and critics. Aside from the game’s multitudinous glitches, many long-time fans feel that much of the Battlefield DNA has been lost in favor of a more trend-chasing approach. The game has drawn comparisons to other contemporary shooters like Fortnite and Warzone for its unlockable Specialist skins, the most contentious being the cartoonish and tongue-in-cheek Santa-themed outfit. In addition to these skins, players can unlock various colorful cosmetics for vehicles used by both of the game’s factions, including its antagonistic interpretation of Russia.
Amidst Battlefield 2042‘s low player count and other assorted issues, a new controversy has arisen: the inclusion of an unlockable WW1-themed skin that can be applied to in-game Russian aircraft. The skin, entitled the “Grin Reaper“, went live last week as a reward for one of the game’s Weekly Missions. It would appear that EA and DICE have rethought this skin’s inclusion, as a tweet from the Battlefield Direct Communication Twitter account states that it will no longer be available to unlock “In light of recent events“. The tweet does not specify if the skin will return to the game at any point.
Of course, this removal raises the somewhat awkward point that Russia still plays a major role in the game. The country takes on a position as an oppressive military force, and players have a chance to be involuntarily placed on the Russian side before each match. A petition for EA to issue refunds for Battlefield 2042 has already gained traction because of Battlefield‘s launch issues.
While some players are calling on EA to remove Russian involvement from Battlefield 2042, that seems unlikely. EA likely is more focused on Battlefield 2042‘s bugs and issues, but the removal of this skin is a symbol of where the organization stands on the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Other companies have followed suit in expressing solidarity with the people of Ukraine, so EA has joined by removing this skin. Whether this removal has any effect on current events in Ukraine, the gaming world has taken notice.
Battlefield 2042 is currently available on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.
