Here's Why Battlefield 6's 'Completionist' Skin is Getting…

Many believe that Battlefield 6's Heatwave skin variants for the Desert Locusts squad are a disgrace to players' grind, as they look mundane and seem like a poor choice for most of the game's maps. Battlefield 6 has faced controversy since launch for its focus on realism in cosmetics, reigniting the long-standing debate over whether unrealistic skins belong in FPS games.

One of the biggest debates surrounding the game's insistence on realistic cosmetics started when some fans expressed disappointment over Battlefield 6's Weapon Mastery camos, known as the Unstoppable Force skins. Those who disliked the reward claimed that the unlocked items' appearances are so lackluster that they make the entire grind for them pointless. Now, a similar argument seems to be taking place, this time about a soldier skin that some players are mocking for being a "Sisyphean task."

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By Mohsen Baqery

Some Battlefield 6 Fans Think the Heatwave Skin Variants Are Not Worth the Grind

When a Twitter user shared an image of Battlefield 6's Heatwave skin variant for the Desert Locusts squad and detailed its unlock requirements, it quickly sparked backlash. Hundreds of players mocked both the skin's appearance and the effort needed to obtain it. The skin in question is unlocked by completing the Tier 3 Adaptable unit challenge, which requires achieving 50 kills or assists without dying in a single match. Critics argue that the reward doesn't match the effort, calling the grind pointless given the skin's unimpressive design. One player even joked, "Looks like a skin you'd unlock with a code for buying a bag of Doritos," pointing out that it hardly feels like a true completionist reward for such a demanding challenge.

Dozens of players have also argued that the skin's bright color defeats its tactical purpose in most Battlefield 6 maps. They point out that even as a free cosmetic, the Heatwave skin doesn't make sense since it makes the wearer easier to spot, something few competitive FPS players would want. Mocking its lack of practicality, one fan wrote, "You get rewarded for being stealthy and unstoppable by being gifted a skin that makes you a target from across the map."

The Heatwave variants come with unique unlock challenges for each class.

Not Every Fan Thinks the Heatwave Skins Are Worthless

As debates over the Heatwave skins have intensified, many players have come to DICE's defense, supporting the studio's commitment to realism in Battlefield 6. Their main counterarguments include:

Heatwave shouldn't be considered a completionist skin. Some players argue that unlocking the variant isn't as difficult as critics claim, since getting 50 spot assists is relatively easy.
The Heatwave variants are specialized skins. Supporters argue that they perform well on certain maps, such as Cairo or New Sobek City, where their colors help soldiers blend more naturally into the surroundings.
The core fan base values realism over flashiness. Many fans argue that Battlefield 6's audience doesn't care if the cosmetics seem plain compared to other franchises like Call of Duty, as long as they enhance immersion.

There are also moderates in this debate who believe that Battlefield and Call of Duty taking different approaches to skins and cosmetics is ultimately good for the multiplayer FPS genre. They argue that having two major franchises with distinct philosophies gives players more freedom of choice and fosters healthy competition that benefits the industry as a whole.

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OpenCritic Reviews: Top Critic Avg: 83 /100 Critics Rec: 90%

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Released: October 10, 2025
ESRB: Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language, In-App Purchases, Users Interact
Developer(s): Battlefield Studios
Publisher(s): EA