Call of Duty's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles crossover is sparking outrage among players due to its exorbitant cost. Unlocking all the crossover items could cost players up to $90 in COD Points, prompting many to call for Black Ops 6 to become free-to-play.
Activision's Black Ops 6 Season 02 Reloaded update, released February 20th, introduced the TMNT crossover. Each of the four turtles—Leonardo, Donatello, Michelangelo, and Raphael—has a premium bundle priced at 2,400 COD Points ($19.99) each. Acquiring all four would require a staggering $80.
The community's criticism centers on the lack of gameplay-impacting items within the crossover. Cosmetics are purely aesthetic and don't affect gameplay balance. Many players argue that ignoring the crossover is easy, leaving the high-spending players to indulge.
However, the high cost of cosmetics and the introduction of a second premium event pass (following the Squid Game crossover) are fueling the fire. Players are comparing Black Ops 6's monetization to free-to-play titles like Fortnite.
Activision's aggressive monetization isn't new, but the premium event pass has pushed some fans over the edge. The consistent monetization across the $70 Black Ops 6 and the free-to-play Warzone is particularly criticized. What's acceptable for Warzone isn't necessarily acceptable for a full-priced game.
The calls for Black Ops 6 Multiplayer to go free-to-play are growing louder. With each microtransaction, the game increasingly resembles free-to-play competitors.
Despite the backlash, Activision and Microsoft are unlikely to change course. Black Ops 6 enjoyed a record-breaking launch, surpassing previous Call of Duty titles in sales and Game Pass subscriptions. The financial success is undeniable, justifying Activision's current monetization strategy.
