Battlefield 6, AI Art and an Unhappy Community
Battlefield 6 is not just in the spotlight for its gunplay and large scale battles right now. It is also facing criticism from its own community over what players believe is AI generated artwork in a new cosmetic pack.
The issue started when a Reddit user, Willcario, shared an image of a player card sticker called Winter Warning from the Windchill cosmetics pack. At first glance it looks like a standard Battlefield style soldier aiming down the sights of an assault rifle. But a closer look shows something is off. The rifle appears to have two barrels, a classic type of glitch people often associate with AI generated images.
Because AI image models are known for visual mistakes like extra fingers or strange object duplication, many players quickly concluded that the Winter Warning sticker was created with generative AI. While it could technically be a simple human art mistake, the community reaction focused heavily on the possibility that AI tools were used.
Why Players Care About AI Generated Cosmetics
For a lot of Battlefield fans, the problem is not only the odd looking weapon. It is the idea that premium cosmetic content might be created by AI instead of human artists. Willcario did not hold back, saying they would rather have no sticker at all than what they called low quality AI generated garbage.
Other players agreed. One user wrote that this discovery killed their desire to keep supporting the game. Another said that even though cosmetics are optional and not required to play, they are willing to walk away from the game entirely if this is the direction the studio decides to take.
Part of the strong reaction comes from what happened with another big shooter. Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 has already been under fire for what looks like AI generated calling card art with a Studio Ghibli inspired style. Players noticed low quality and strange elements there as well, and the controversy contributed to a mostly negative user rating on Steam along with a weak review score.
In that case, the AI art debate stacked on top of other problems such as a disappointing campaign and unremarkable multiplayer design. Together, these issues made players feel like the game was rushed, cheapened, or simply not given enough genuine creative effort.
Battlefield 6 players are worried about a similar pattern. If cosmetic art can be pushed out cheaply with AI instead of being handcrafted, they fear that quality, style consistency and even jobs for human artists could be pushed aside in favor of cost cutting.
Promises About AI and What Comes Next
This situation is especially tense because of what DICE and EA have said publicly about AI. In October, Rebecka Coutaz, VP and general manager of DICE and Criterion, told the BBC that players would not encounter generative AI content in Battlefield 6. She followed that by describing AI as very seductive, suggesting that if the studio could break the magic with AI it might help them be more innovative and creative.
At the same time, EA’s CEO has openly talked about being excited for AI technology and how it could be used in future games. When executives praise AI and players then spot what looks like AI artwork in a live game, community trust can erode quickly.
This leads to some big questions:
- Did EA or DICE change their stance since that earlier promise about no generative AI in Battlefield 6
- Did the statement only apply to the launch version of the game, leaving room for AI generated content in later updates or cosmetic packs
- Is this actually AI art at all, or simply a badly checked piece of human made artwork
There is also a practical angle. Valve now requires developers to disclose if their games use generative AI content on Steam. If the Winter Warning sticker was indeed generated or heavily assisted by AI, Battlefield 6’s Steam page would be expected to mention that under Valve’s policy. Right now, the page does not list any such disclosure.
PC Gamer has reached out to EA for an official comment, so more clarity may come later. For the moment, the community is mostly working with visual evidence and the obvious double barrel rifle oddity.
For players, this is about more than one sticker. It touches on broader worries in modern gaming. Many PC gamers invest in powerful rigs and spend money on skins, cosmetics and deluxe editions because they appreciate craft and detail. When it looks like that work is being offloaded to generative algorithms, it feels like a downgrade in both quality and passion.
This debate is not about performance or frame rates but it does affect how the Battlefield 6 community views the overall value of the game. Cosmetics, store items and live service updates are a major part of the PC gaming experience today. If players feel those elements are low effort or misleading, they can lose interest quickly no matter how good the shooting feels.
Right now Battlefield 6 is in a delicate position. The gameplay and future updates will matter, but so will the studio’s honesty and transparency around AI. Whether this sticker ends up being a human mistake or confirmed AI artwork, the strong community reaction has made one thing clear. PC gamers want to know when AI is being used in their games and they want reassurance that it is not replacing quality content made by real artists.
Original article and image: https://www.pcgamer.com/games/fps/battlefield-6-fans-suspect-ea-used-generative-ai-in-a-cosmetics-pack-for-the-shooter-i-would-literally-prefer-to-have-no-sticker-than-some-low-quality-ai-generated-garbage/
