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 hefty price tag. Unlocking all the themed items could cost upwards of $90 in COD Points, prompting calls for Black Ops 6 to transition to a free-to-play model.

Activision's Season 02 Reloaded update, released February 20th, introduced the crossover featuring 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 to acquire the complete set. Adding insult to injury, a premium event pass costing 1,100 COD Points ($10) is also available, offering exclusive cosmetics like Splinter, unavailable through any other means. The free track offers some cosmetics, but the most desirable items are locked behind the paid pass.

The crossover focuses heavily on cosmetic items, with no gameplay-altering content included. While many players can easily ignore these purchases, the high cost has ignited widespread criticism. The introduction of a second premium event pass (following the Squid Game crossover) fuels the argument that Black Ops 6 is adopting a free-to-play monetization model, similar to Fortnite.

Reddit users voiced their frustration, highlighting the cumulative cost of the game, battle pass, and now premium event passes. One user pointed out the potential $80+ expenditure for the Turtles plus the additional cost of the event pass. Others expressed concern about the potential for future seasonal event passes, contrasting the current model with past events offering free rewards.

Black Ops 6's monetization strategy includes a base battle pass (1,100 COD Points/$9.99), a premium BlackCell option ($29.99), and a continuous stream of store cosmetics. The Turtles crossover, with its premium event pass, adds another layer to this already extensive system. Players are arguing that this level of monetization is excessive for a full-priced game.

Activision's aggressive monetization isn't new, but the addition of premium event passes has pushed many players to their limit. The standardized monetization across the $70 Black Ops 6 and the free-to-play Warzone further exacerbates the issue. What might be acceptable for a free-to-play title isn't necessarily viewed as acceptable for a game with a $70 upfront cost.

This disparity is fueling the calls for Black Ops 6 Multiplayer to go free-to-play. Each new microtransaction pushes the experience closer to free-to-play titles like Fortnite, Apex Legends, and Warzone.

Despite the criticism, Activision and Microsoft are unlikely to change course, given Black Ops 6's immense success. It boasts the largest Call of Duty launch ever and set a new record for Game Pass subscriptions in a single day. Sales on PlayStation and Steam surged 60% compared to 2023's Modern Warfare 3. The financial success of the game, clearly, outweighs the concerns of some players.