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 steep price. Unlocking all the themed items could cost players up to $90 in COD Points, prompting some to suggest Activision should make Black Ops 6 free-to-play.

Activision recently revealed the Black Ops 6 Season 02 Reloaded update, including the TMNT crossover. Each turtle (Leonardo, Donatello, Michelangelo, and Raphael) has a premium bundle, likely priced at 2,400 COD Points ($19.99) each, totaling $80 for the complete set.

Adding to the cost, a premium event pass for 1,100 COD Points ($10) is required to obtain Splinter, a key cosmetic. The free track offers limited rewards.

The community's criticism centers on the lack of gameplay-altering items within the crossover. Many argue the cosmetics are purely optional and easily ignored, yet the pricing model remains a point of contention.

Players are expressing concern that the high cost and the introduction of a second premium event pass suggest Black Ops 6 is adopting a free-to-play monetization model similar to Fortnite, despite its $70 price tag. This, coupled with the existing battle pass and BlackCell options, and additional store items, is considered excessive.

"Activision casually glossing over the fact that they want you to pay $80+ for the turtles, plus another $10+ for the event pass," one Redditor commented. Others speculate on the future of seasonal event passes and lament the shift away from free, universally appealing cosmetic rewards.

Activision's aggressive monetization practices are not new, but the premium event pass, introduced with the Squid Game crossover, has amplified player frustration. The standardized monetization across Black Ops 6 and Warzone is particularly criticized, as what might be acceptable for a free-to-play title like Warzone is deemed unacceptable for a full-priced game like Black Ops 6.

This has led to calls for Black Ops 6 Multiplayer to transition to a free-to-play model. The current microtransaction system increasingly resembles that of free-to-play games like Fortnite and Apex Legends.

Despite the backlash, Activision and Microsoft are unlikely to alter their strategy, given Black Ops 6's record-breaking launch and strong sales figures. The game's financial success clearly justifies the current monetization approach for the company.