Activision's latest crossover event in *Call of Duty: Black Ops 6*, featuring the iconic Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, has sparked significant controversy within the gaming community due to its steep pricing. Announced as part of the Season 02 Reloaded update, set to launch on February 20, the event introduces four premium bundles, each dedicated to one of the turtles—Leonardo, Donatello, Michelangelo, and Raphael. Priced at 2,400 COD Points, or $19.99 each, the total cost to acquire all four turtles amounts to a whopping $80. Additionally, a premium event pass, costing 1,100 COD Points or $10, offers exclusive items like Splinter, with the free track providing less desirable Foot Clan soldier skins.
While the crossover does not affect gameplay and remains optional, the community backlash has been intense. Players are criticizing Activision for what they perceive as excessive monetization, especially given the game's $70 price tag. Some have drawn comparisons to free-to-play models like *Fortnite*, suggesting that *Black Ops 6* is being monetized similarly despite its premium cost.
The event has reignited debates about the game's monetization strategy. Each season in *Black Ops 6* includes a battle pass priced at 1,100 COD Points ($9.99), with a more expensive BlackCell version at $29.99. Alongside these, the in-game store continuously offers various cosmetics, with the Turtles event adding yet another layer of paid content.
Community reactions have been vocal, with players expressing frustration over the costs. "Activision casually glossing over the fact that they want you to pay $80+ if you want the 4 Turtles, plus another $10+ if you want the TMNT event pass rewards," remarked redditor II_JangoFett_II. Others, like Hipapitapotamus, lamented the shift from free, universally appealing rewards to paid event passes. APensiveMonkey humorously pointed out the incongruity of the turtles using guns, reflecting a broader dissatisfaction with the crossover's execution.
The ongoing debate has led some to call for *Black Ops 6* to adopt a free-to-play model for its multiplayer mode, aligning it more closely with games like *Fortnite* and *Apex Legends*. This sentiment is driven by the belief that the current monetization approach is overly aggressive, especially when compared to the free-to-play *Warzone*, which uses a similar monetization structure.
Despite the criticism, Activision and its parent company Microsoft are unlikely to alter their strategy, given *Black Ops 6*'s record-breaking launch and strong sales performance. The game not only set a new single-day Game Pass subscription record but also saw a 60% increase in sales on PlayStation and Steam compared to the previous year's *Modern Warfare 3*. With such financial success, it seems Activision will continue its current monetization path, much to the chagrin of a vocal segment of its player base.
