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

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 cost players upwards of $90 in COD Points, prompting calls for Black Ops 6 to transition to a free-to-play model.

Activision's February 20th reveal of Black Ops 6 Season 02 Reloaded detailed the crossover, showcasing individual premium bundles for each Turtle (Leonardo, Donatello, Michelangelo, and Raphael). Each bundle is expected to cost 2,400 COD Points ($19.99), totaling approximately $80 for the complete set.

Adding insult to injury, a premium event pass costing 1,100 COD Points ($10) is required to obtain Splinter, a key character in the crossover. The free track offers limited cosmetic items.

The community's criticism centers on the lack of gameplay-altering items within the crossover. Many argue the high cost is excessive, especially considering the cosmetics are purely aesthetic. The inclusion of a second premium event pass (following the Squid Game crossover) fuels concerns that Black Ops 6 is adopting a free-to-play monetization strategy, similar to Fortnite.

Reddit users expressed their frustration, with one stating, “Activision casually glossing over the fact that they want you to pay $80+ for the Turtles, plus another $10+ for the TMNT event pass.” Others predict the implementation of seasonal event passes.

Black Ops 6's monetization already includes a base battle pass ($9.99), a premium BlackCell version ($29.99), and a continuous stream of store cosmetics. The addition of premium event passes on top of this existing structure is deemed excessive by many players, especially considering the game's $70 price tag.

The comparison to free-to-play titles like Fortnite and Warzone is inevitable. While such monetization might be acceptable in a free game, it's viewed as predatory in a full-priced title. This disparity fuels the demand for Black Ops 6 Multiplayer to become free-to-play.

Despite the backlash, Activision and Microsoft are unlikely to alter their strategy. Black Ops 6 boasts record-breaking sales and subscriptions, demonstrating the franchise's continued financial success. The considerable revenue generated clearly justifies the current monetization practices for Activision and its new owner, Microsoft.