With its announcement has the confirmation that Hellfire Protocol will be available on October 2nd at 7 PM PDT for all Emma Frost mains. The beautifully sinister almost diamond-hard version first came about in Avengers Vs. X-Men #5 back in 2012, and now the officials say players can “dominate the battlefield with the flourish of icy elegance.” Hey, what better time than now for this competitive superhero shooter?
So what is it exactly that players seek upon being the owner of this skin? The Hellfire Protocol transforms Emma into her full diamond form, crystallizing the look that made her famous throughout the comic. Description nearly offers “diamond-hard power” along with the classic Emma Frost attitude we all know and love. And the release date is slotted so close to October.
And the response from the community has been… well, let’s say complicated. Some are disgusted by the reveal. AlineeTTV shouted, “now thats what im talking about, THE HAIR UGHHH” as another player forged in the name “IT’S MINE, OH MY GOD I LOVE HER”-shouted a lot of power to entertain throughout the entire X-Mansion. There’s for sure enthusiasm in some portions of the community.
And here comes the other side of the coin, and it’s quite messy. Much of the community seems to despise that coattail design. “We really gotta remove that flap. The time is now! 😤😤,” demanded St3ak3atah, while GAMEB0IKAE went with something less diplomatic: “GET RID OF THE TAILCOAT,” followed by a crying emoji. It’s a real coattail controversy in these parts, folks.
The debate has gone up in volume since then, with some players calling the skin “buns” (which is bad if you don’t know gamer jargon) and others mounting a campaign to defend it. The biggest question about the skin is whether this skin actually appears in the comics because it sure has looked like raw fan rendition to some, with INHGamer asking, “where in the comic does this outfit appear because I don’t see it,” starting a small debate about comic book accuracy.
What’s fascinating is just how split the Emma Frost mains really are concerning this skin: some players express eagerness to throw money right at the screen- YaBoiNathan97 literally begged in all caps, “DEAR GOD IN HEAVEN TAKE ME MONEY,” and NickOhSee jokingly shot back, “STOP ATTACKING MY BANK ACCOUNT LIKE THIS!!!!(keep it up, you’re doing great).”
The other side of the coin: “Why is Emma only getting terrible skins? 💀,” questioned Yova_Barrymore. MelissandeXO let out a sigh, saying, “Out of all these options you had for Emma… It’s okay, whatever.”
That is such a laugh releasing it at this time- “We missed out on summer skin for this,” MXMComi3s quipped about the release, making one wonder just what the skin release schedule for Marvel Rivals is. Meanwhile, some others want completely different things as GraysonAllenMVP harrages back, “Daredevil gameplay when,” and Abdyok requested, “Nintendo Switch 2 pls.”
It’s pretty clear that players of Emma Frost enjoy putting together her look. Molly47557421 wanted to see “classic Emma skins with her iconic capes,” while ReachStars5 begged for “Kris Anka’s Emma” to save them from their current situation. The community knows what they want and knows how to make themselves heard.
The skin’s description mentions nothing breaking your shine, which is very fitting whilst the diamond form of Emma, but there are so many wondering whether developers would have to actually breakdown and change the skin based on community sentiment. That mixed message casts a whole shadow over the community: Some will buy this skin as soon as it’s released, while others will wait to see other Emma Frost offerings in the future.
Marvel Rivals keeps adding its own take on cosmetics, and the Hellfire Protocol skin is another shout-out to a cherished comic book moment introduced in the game. Whether players love or hate the coattails, this is definitely something to look forward to as we head toward the fall gaming season. From what the previews show, the diamond form moves pretty well, which might be enough to win over some haters.
The big question is how this skin performs after it’s in the wild on October 2. Emma Frost is a damn popular character, and sentiments are so split on this that maybe it’s one of those love-it-or-hate-it skins that will spark active discussion well after morning and evening raids. One thing’s for sure: October 2 is gonna be a shining day for all the Marvel Rivals players.
