Call of Duty's latest Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles crossover is sparking outrage among players due to its exorbitant cost. Unlocking all crossover items could cost players upwards of $90 in COD Points, prompting calls for Activision to transition Black Ops 6 to a free-to-play model.
Activision's Black Ops 6 Season 02 Reloaded update, released February 20th, introduced the TMNT crossover. Each turtle (Leonardo, Donatello, Michelangelo, and Raphael) has a separate premium bundle, likely priced at 2400 COD Points ($19.99) each, totaling approximately $80 for the full set.
The community's criticism centers on the crossover's focus on purely cosmetic items with no impact on gameplay. Many argue that ignoring the crossover is easy, yet the pricing model is still heavily criticized. Players are comparing Black Ops 6's monetization to free-to-play titles like Fortnite.
Black Ops 6's monetization strategy includes a base battle pass (1100 COD Points/$9.99), a premium BlackCell option ($29.99), and continuous in-game store purchases. The TMNT crossover's premium event pass adds another layer to this already extensive system. The consistent monetization across the $70 Black Ops 6 and the free-to-play Warzone is a major point of contention.
The demand for a free-to-play model for Black Ops 6 multiplayer stems from the increasing similarity to free-to-play games like Fortnite and Warzone. Despite the backlash, Activision and Microsoft are unlikely to alter their strategy, given Black Ops 6's record-breaking launch and sales figures. The game's financial success justifies the current monetization practices for Activision and its new owner, Microsoft.
