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

Activision revealed the Season 02 Reloaded content, including the TMNT crossover, launching February 20th. Each of the four Turtles (Leonardo, Donatello, Michelangelo, and Raphael) receives a premium bundle, likely priced at 2,400 COD Points ($19.99) each—a potential $80 expenditure for the complete set.

Adding insult to injury, a premium event pass costing 1,100 COD Points ($10) is also available, featuring exclusive cosmetics like Splinter. The free track offers limited cosmetics, further incentivizing the purchase. This marks only the second premium event pass in Call of Duty history.

The community's criticism centers on the crossover's focus on purely cosmetic items with no gameplay impact. Many argue that ignoring the crossover is easy, but the pricing remains a point of contention. Reddit users express their frustration, highlighting the escalating cost and comparing Black Ops 6's monetization to free-to-play titles.

Black Ops 6's monetization strategy includes a base battle pass (1,100 COD Points/$9.99), a premium BlackCell pass ($29.99), and a continuous stream of store cosmetics. The TMNT crossover and its premium event pass add another layer to this already extensive system.

Players argue that the combined cost of the game, battle passes, and now premium event passes is excessive, suggesting a free-to-play model would be more appropriate. This sentiment stems from the increasing similarity between Black Ops 6's monetization and free-to-play games like Fortnite and Warzone.

While Activision's aggressive monetization isn't new, the introduction of premium event passes has intensified player backlash. The standardized monetization across the $70 Black Ops 6 and the free-to-play Warzone further fuels the debate. What might be acceptable for Warzone isn't necessarily so for a full-priced title.

Despite the criticism, Black Ops 6's success remains undeniable. It boasts the biggest Call of Duty launch ever, setting new records. However, the community's discontent highlights the growing tension between aggressive monetization and player expectations.