Was the Specialist system created to sell cosmetics?

Yes definitely one of if not the top reason.

HOW DO CUSTOMIZED LOADOUTS WORK?

Class no longer restricts which weapons you can bring onto the Battlefield thanks to a fully customizable Loadout. As a Specialist, you’ll be able to customize the following:

• Primary Weapon
• Equipment (items anyone can use such as a Medical Crate or Supply Crate)
• Secondary Weapon
• Throwable (such as Frag or Incendiary Grenade)

Here is what a customized Loadout could look like:

• Primary Weapon: M5A3 (Assault Rifle)
• Equipment: Supply Crate
• Secondary Weapon: G57 (Sidearm)
• Throwable: Frag Grenade

As with all Specialists, Mackay’s Specialty and Trait are unique to him and cannot be changed as part of his Loadout:

• Specialty: Grappling Hook
• Trait: Nimble

https://www.ea.com/games/battlefield/news/battlefield-briefing-answering-your-reveal-questions

I don't see how specialists are a cash grab, unless the only way to unlock them is with money. It sounds like DICE just wants to try something new, and they also said their player data shows players choose a character based mainly on the primary weapon that character can use.

But with the new specialist system players will choose characters based on what class that specialist is and their unique class abilities, such as healing, sniping, repairing, and grapple hook. 😉

So if someone chooses a rocket launcher for their equipment slot, then they'll have to give up carrying a supply crate or anti-aircraft weapons. I think it looks fun.

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@OskooI_007 wrote:

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HOW DO CUSTOMIZED LOADOUTS WORK?

Class no longer restricts which weapons you can bring onto the Battlefield thanks to a fully customizable Loadout. As a Specialist, you’ll be able to customize the following:

• Primary Weapon
• Equipment (items anyone can use such as a Medical Crate or Supply Crate)
• Secondary Weapon
• Throwable (such as Frag or Incendiary Grenade)

Here is what a customized Loadout could look like:

• Primary Weapon: M5A3 (Assault Rifle)
• Equipment: Supply Crate
• Secondary Weapon: G57 (Sidearm)
• Throwable: Frag Grenade

As with all Specialists, Mackay’s Specialty and Trait are unique to him and cannot be changed as part of his Loadout:

• Specialty: Grappling Hook
• Trait: Nimble

https://www.ea.com/games/battlefield/news/battlefield-briefing-answering-your-reveal-questions

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I don't see how specialists are a cash grab, unless the only way to unlock them is with money. It sounds like DICE just wants to try something new, and they also said their player data shows players choose a character based mainly on the primary weapon that character can use.

But with the new specialist system players will choose characters based on what class that specialist is and their unique class abilities, such as healing, sniping, repairing, and grapple hook. 😉

So if someone chooses a rocket launcher for their equipment slot, then they'll have to give up carrying a supply crate or anti-aircraft weapons. I think it looks fun.

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All of which could be achieved without making them characters.  The character aspect is 100% money driven decision.  Black ops series of CoD has cashed in on this exact specialist concept for years.  EA knows they will take in on cosmetics which is why they are doing it.  

This was in the press release too: "One last note on customization: There will be plenty of options available to you in the form of skins, which can alter your appearance and allow you to choose how you’d like your Specialist to stand out on the battlefield. The same two Specialists can look vastly different when wearing different skins."

This is what concerns me.  I believe they made the decision to ditch classes and implement specialists based on this factor.  They will justify it as allowing more player freedom to use any weapon with any class, but that unbalances the core gameplay mechanics.  They really did this because this kind of system makes Activision and Ubisoft loads of money.  Notice how they even wrote the lore to accommodate this change, too, as you're now playing as mercenaries instead of soldiers.  The class system works just fine and doesn't need to be changed.  Like I said, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it."

See the Roze skin controversy in Call of Duty as a prime example of what can go wrong with this.  There is a certain skin that is darker and harder to see than others.  This unbalances the gameplay, but there is no motivation for Activision to fix this because they're making money by selling that skin.  That's the core problem here and it's why I'm concerned about 2042.

@CustomerChairThe Class / Kit system is still there, just not as starkly delineated.

The specialty and associated trait are what define the new “classes”. The rest of the customization is either loadout / tactical or cosmetic, which is not that different from previous Battlefield games.

The tried and true names of “Assualt” , “Support” , etc. are gone, yes, however the playstyles associated with those classes can be applied across any specialist now (with some obvious strengths / weakness like Falck being an ideal Medic…)

@carsono311  I was more that mind until they announced that the only thing unique in loadouts is your specialist gadget and trait...  bf 2042 is literally  just black ops specialists not classes.  If it was just guns that opened up for every class then sure, but thats not what we got.  There aren't classes anymore.

For sure its for the MTX's. Which i dislike on full-priced games. But im fine with it, as long as theres no super dark rose skin.

There is just no need For such a 'innovation'. Why Would you give the specialists Background, no one asked for?

This is just following the Hype like BFV tried with Battle Royale. I dont know, Why Dice is Not trying to Set Trends anymore. Instead, they are Making their Game even more Mainstream and Casual.

Why Would i have to equip medi and ammo boxes if i can just equip the Meta loadout and Call in my Personal pet? I Call, that we are already seeing all of those downsites in the beta.

Grappling Hooks, that contribute nothing to the Team, Automated turrets, auto spotting for the specialist only ans the wingsuit. So far 4 outfit the 5 specialists are only for Lone wolves. How can anyone Think, that this will help with teamplay and Balance. 

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@UNL1M1T3D_P0W3R wrote:
@carsono311Yeah exactly. They still fall under one of the 4 main classes, but there's now the freedom of choosing whatever Primary, Secondary, Gadget and Throwable - offers way more flexibility and creativity instead of being locked to certain things players may have not liked and felt "forced" to use, which has definitely felt like the case with the usual 4 classes. If Specialsists didn't have their unique skill sets it'd be too casual, just hope all Specialists' unique features that releass are actually useful and not just 1 or 2 of them. Time will tell.

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Again specialists aren't classes and there loose categorization under a class is irrelevant as any specialist can play how you want them to play.  In a game that emphasizes military teamwork and role structure complete build freedom undermines that completely.  Dices "empowerment" of players is also a giant middle finger to team play and instead is an embracement of selfish gaming.  The entire pitch for this game so far has been very michael bay/cool guys walk away from explosions which battlefield historically has been the more grounded fps which was its biggest selling point.  The introduction of one man army like features is not great and my give a care to "wait for gameplay" is wearing dangerously thin.  At this point the singular thing keeping any kind of interest for me is hazard zone.