There’s an epidemic of ugliness in multiplayer shooters, and its cause goes by many names. Skin. Bundle. Drop. Outfit. Coating. Or the most generic: cosmetic. Unassuming at first and quiet by nature, Cosmetic Uglification is a viral affliction infecting the best shooters of our time. When left unchecked, all semblance of aesthetic cohesion is sacrificed at the altar of individual expression, exclusivity and FOMO. Every shooter I love is becoming visual ooze before my very eyes.
Signs of cosmetic uglification are everywhere: in spec ops soldiers trading tactical vests for diamond-laced streetwear, elite operators wearing Lara Croft cosplay, commandos going loud in pajamas. As seasons rage on, live service games garner years of world. It’s become normal to watch shooters that once flaunted a style of their own be infiltrated by garish outfits and pop culture guest stars. Throw in enough Mortys and Santa outfits and even the strongest art direction becomes mush. The very items that can drive us to play longer can also erode their appeal.
