NetEase will upgrade Storm’s summer storm skin, Sacred Skies, to Legendary for free after backlash over its Epic rarity. The change comes after Summer Festival Vol. 2 drew anger over Storm being the only character without a Legendary summer cosmetic.
Storm and Sacred Skies
NetEase said the Sacred Skies swimsuit costume will get an all-new lobby animation and an updated MVP animation in the near future. Players who buy it will also receive a free Ultimate effect upgrade, so the revision is not just a rarity label shift.
“Dear Rivals! We’ve seen the community’s feedback regarding today’s announcement of Storm’s most recent costume, as well as the overall sentiment towards her cosmetic options. We hear your passion and want to share our plan going forward with the community.” That response puts the company on record after players reacted angrily when Storm’s costume landed below Legendary.
Summer Festival Vol. 2 backlash
Summer Festival Vol. 2 raised the stakes because Storm was the lone character without a Legendary summer release. NetEase also addressed accusations of bias against the X-Men character, a charge that had already made the costume debate about more than one skin.
“Our number one goal is to create a positive community for everyone who loves this game. And while we understand that tensions run high, harassment of our staff, including the development team and moderators, is not acceptable.” The message draws a line between the cosmetic complaint and abuse aimed at the people making the update.
Legendary for $16
The costume will still be sold at the current price of $16, even after the free upgrade. That is the friction in this fix: NetEase is adding Legendary presentation and extra effects without changing the sticker price, which makes the buyer experience better without resetting the store listing.
NetEase also said more Storm Legendary-tier costumes will arrive over the rest of the year. For players deciding whether to buy Sacred Skies now, the practical answer is straightforward: the skin stays on sale, the upgrade is promised for free, and the announced extras are lobby animation, MVP animation, and Ultimate effect changes.
