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 exorbitant cost. Unlocking all the themed items could set players back a hefty $90 in COD Points. This has led to a growing chorus of voices within the community suggesting Activision should simply make Black Ops 6 free-to-play.

Activision recently unveiled the Black Ops 6 Season 02 Reloaded content, including the mid-season Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles crossover. Each of the four turtles—Leonardo, Donatello, Michelangelo, and Raphael—boasts its own premium bundle, priced at 2,400 COD Points ($19.99) each. Acquiring the complete set thus demands a staggering $80 investment.

Adding insult to injury, a premium event pass, costing an additional 1,100 COD Points ($10), is also available. This pass offers exclusive cosmetics, notably Splinter, unattainable through any other means. The free track offers a few less desirable items.

The crossover predominantly features cosmetic items, having no impact on gameplay. This has fueled the criticism, with many arguing the high price is unnecessary and easily avoidable. However, the aggressive monetization tactics haven't gone unnoticed. The introduction of a second premium event pass (following the Squid Game crossover) has intensified the backlash, with players comparing Black Ops 6's monetization to free-to-play titles like Fortnite.

Reddit user II_JangoFett_II voiced the common sentiment: “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… Call of Duty's Gross greed strikes again... DESPICABLE!” Other players echoed similar concerns, expressing frustration over the increasingly monetized nature of the game and the expectation of seasonal event passes.

Black Ops 6's monetization strategy extends beyond the crossover. Each season introduces a new battle pass (1,100 COD Points/$9.99), a premium BlackCell version ($29.99), and a continuous stream of purchasable cosmetics. The Turtles crossover and its premium pass are layered on top of this existing system.

The cumulative cost of the game itself, battle pass, BlackCell, and now premium event passes has prompted calls for a free-to-play model, particularly for the multiplayer component. Players argue that while such monetization might be acceptable in a free-to-play game like Warzone, it's unacceptable for a $70 title.

Activision's aggressive monetization is not new, but the premium event pass has pushed many players to their breaking point. The standardized monetization across Black Ops 6 and Warzone further exacerbates the issue, as what's acceptable for one isn't necessarily acceptable for the other.

The demand for a free-to-play multiplayer model stems from the increasing similarity between Black Ops 6 and other free-to-play games like Fortnite, Apex Legends, and Marvel Rivals. Despite the criticism, Activision and Microsoft are unlikely to alter their strategy, given Black Ops 6's phenomenal success—it boasts the biggest Call of Duty launch ever, setting new records for Game Pass subscriptions and sales across PlayStation and Steam. The financial success clearly outweighs the negative player feedback for the company.