Despite pre-launch promises that the game would be free of generative AI content, Battlefield 6 is facing a wave of backlash after eagle-eyed players spotted what appear to be AI-generated artifacts in its latest cosmetic updates. The controversy mirrors recent criticisms directed at its primary rival, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, which has also been accused of using AI slop for in-game rewards.
The discovery has sparked a heated debate within the community, especially given the game's massive commercial success as the top-selling title in the U.S. for 2025.
The Evidence: Two-Barreled Rifles and "AI Slop"
The controversy began on December 21, 2025, when players noticed a specific player card sticker called "Winter Warning" included in the Windchill cosmetic pack, priced at 900 Battlefield Coins.
Anatomical and Mechanical Errors: The most glaring piece of evidence is a depiction of an M4A1 rifle with two barrels. Fans also pointed out misaligned scopes and strange hand positions on the soldier, classic hallmarks of generative AI hallucinations.
Community Reaction: The Reddit thread "Remove this AI s**t from the store" quickly went viral, with thousands of upvotes. Players expressed frustration that a premium, paid cosmetic in a flagship title appeared to have skipped human quality control.
Conflict with Pre-Launch Promises
The discovery stands in direct contrast to statements made by DICE leadership just two months ago. In October 2025, DICE General Manager Rebecka Coutaz stated that while the team found generative AI seducing for early prototyping and ideation, the technology would not be used for any gameplay or shipped content.
Early Development Use: DICE admits to using AI for ideation and exploration during pre-production to free up creative space.
The "No-AI" Line: The official stance was that no generative AI would touch player-facing assets. The presence of these stickers suggests that either the policy has changed or AI-generated placeholders accidentally slipped through the pipeline and into the live store.
A Growing Industry Trend
Battlefield 6 is far from the only major title grappling with this issue in 2025. The gaming industry is currently at a crossroads regarding the ethics and quality of AI-assisted development.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7: Accused of using AI for Calling Cards, contributing to "Mostly Negative" reviews on Steam.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33: Had its Game of the Year and Debut Game awards revoked by the Indie Game Awards due to undisclosed AI use.
Larian Studios: Recently faced backlash after CEO Swen Vincke discussed the potential of AI in their next project, Divinity.
The Bottom Line
EA has yet to issue an official comment on the specific "Winter Warning" sticker. However, with EA's leadership, including CEO Andrew Wilson, repeatedly calling AI "the very core" of their business strategy, many fans fear that AI-generated garbage may become a standard fixture in the future of live-service cosmetics.
Despite this, Battlefield 6 remains a juggernaut, having sold over 20 million copies and successfully returning the franchise to its modern military roots.
Would you like me to monitor the store for any "stealth patches" where EA replaces these controversial assets with human-made art?
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