With the start of October, many live-service games began revealing or starting their in-game Halloween events. Team Fortress 2, Valve's team-based multiplayer shooter, was no different. The Scream Fortress XIII Halloween event was even larger than its most dedicated players expected, adding maps, 20 new cosmetics,and more, and all of them community-made. Yet in typical Team Fortress 2 fashion, the bigger story coming out of Scream Fortress XIII's start is how Valve's monetization has created a Halloween controversy.
Easily the most popular addition in the Scream Fortress XIII update this year is the Corpse Carrier skin for the Scout class. Akin to Halloween costumes that create the illusion of being carried, the skin shows the Scout carrying the dismembered upper half of another Scout. This skin fits the humor of Team Fortress 2 players perfectly, making it an instant success. Better yet, Valve had made the Corpse Carrier very easy and affordable to acquire, too. Until Valve changed its mind.
In an update issued on Monday, Valve reversed two key decisions regarding the Corpse Carrier skin. First, the skin was removed from the Crimson Cache Collection itself and instead became a bonus item for the collection, making it rare. Second, Valve made it so the Corpse Carrier skin could no longer be used year-round and was instead limited purely to Halloween and Full Moon events in Team Fortress 2.
Valve took a popular and widely available Halloween skin and turned it into a rare and exclusive offering. No one should be surprised what happened next. Since it was no longer feasible for many players to unlock the Corpse Carrier through normal means, Valve's marketplace became the defacto source for the skin. Overnight, the Corpse Carrier's listed price leaped by over 3,000%. Typically available for under $3, the price jumped above $60, though its since settled to between $40 and $45.
As for why Valve decided to make changes to the Corpse Carrier's availability, no reasons were provided. There's a strong belief that the changes were necessary due to issues with the Corpse Carrier's design. More specifically, the skin has two heads and a much bulkier visible mass. While the Scout's hitbox doesn't actually change, it could confuse opponents.
Alternatively, some Team Fortress 2 players think Valve noticed the Corpse Carrier's popularity and saw an opportunity to capitalize on the opportunity. Regardless of Valve's intention, it certainly created a scarcity that didn't exist before. But it certainly could have been a necessity from a gameplay perspective, too. Whatever the reasoning, Team Fortress 2 players may have to pay a pretty penny on the Steam marketplace for the season's most exciting new cosmetic.
Team Fortress 2 is available now on PC.
Source: Steam