Activision's Costly Call of Duty Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Crossover Has Some Players Saying Black Ops 6 Should Just Go Free-to-Play at This Point

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Activision's Costly Call of Duty Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Crossover Has Some Players Saying Black Ops 6 Should Just Go Free-to-Play at This Point

Feb 28,25

Call of Duty's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles crossover is sparking outrage among players due to its exorbitant cost. Unlocking all the themed items could set players back a hefty $90 in COD Points, prompting widespread calls for Activision to consider making Black Ops 6 free-to-play.

Activision recently revealed the Black Ops 6 Season 02 Reloaded content, including the TMNT crossover. Each turtle (Leonardo, Donatello, Michelangelo, and Raphael) has a premium bundle priced at approximately $20, totaling $80 for the complete set.

The Leonardo Tracer Pack, costing 2,400 COD Points or $19.99. Image credit: Activision Publishing.

Adding to the cost, a premium event pass featuring Splinter (unobtainable otherwise) is priced at $10. The free track offers some cosmetics, but the most desirable items are locked behind the paywall.

The community is criticizing the lack of gameplay-affecting items within the crossover, deeming the high price for purely cosmetic content excessive. Many argue that ignoring the crossover is easy, but the aggressive monetization is unacceptable.

The Turtles event pass, only the second of its kind in Call of Duty. Image credit: Activision Publishing.

Players are comparing Black Ops 6's monetization to free-to-play titles like Fortnite, citing the premium event pass as a key indicator. The combination of the game's initial cost, the battle pass, BlackCell, and now premium event passes is deemed excessive.

Activision's monetization strategy is not new, but the recent premium event pass has intensified player frustration. The identical monetization model across the $70 Black Ops 6 and the free-to-play Warzone is a point of contention. What is acceptable for a free game is not for a full-priced title.

The demand for a free-to-play model for Black Ops 6 multiplayer stems from this perceived disparity. Each microtransaction further blurs the lines between Black Ops 6 and other free-to-play competitors.

Despite the backlash, Activision and Microsoft are unlikely to change course, given Black Ops 6's record-breaking sales and popularity. The game's financial success justifies the current monetization strategy for the company.

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