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, leading to calls for Black Ops 6 to become free-to-play.

Activision's Season 02 Reloaded update, released February 20th, introduced the crossover. Each of the four Turtles (Leonardo, Donatello, Michelangelo, and Raphael) boasts a premium bundle, likely priced at 2,400 COD Points ($19.99) each, totaling around $80 for the complete set. Adding insult to injury, a premium event pass costing 1,100 COD Points ($10) is also available, offering additional cosmetics including Splinter, obtainable only through this purchase. The free track offers some less desirable cosmetics.

The community is largely unimpressed. While the crossover focuses heavily on cosmetic items, offering no gameplay advantages, the sheer cost is deemed excessive. Many players believe ignoring the crossover is easy, leaving the spending to those who want it.

However, criticism is mounting, with players comparing Black Ops 6's monetization to free-to-play titles like Fortnite. Reddit users express their frustration, highlighting the cumulative cost of the game, battle pass, and now, premium event passes. The sentiment is that the current model is unsustainable.

Activision's monetization strategy, while not new, is amplified by the introduction of premium event passes, first seen in the Squid Game crossover. The consistent monetization across the $70 Black Ops 6 and the free-to-play Warzone is a point of contention, as what's acceptable for a free game isn't necessarily so for a full-priced title.

This has fueled the calls for Black Ops 6 Multiplayer to go free-to-play. The increasing reliance on microtransactions blurs the lines between Call of Duty and other free-to-play competitors like Fortnite, Apex Legends, and Marvel Rivals.

Despite the backlash, Activision and Microsoft are unlikely to change course, given Black Ops 6's phenomenal success. It holds the record for the biggest Call of Duty launch ever, boosting Game Pass subscriptions and significantly outperforming Modern Warfare 3 in sales. The financial success is undeniable, leaving Activision and Microsoft content with the status quo.