The recent Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles crossover in *Call of Duty: Black Ops 6* has sparked significant debate within the gaming community, primarily due to its high cost. Activision has revealed that to acquire all four turtles—Leonardo, Donatello, Michelangelo, and Raphael—players would need to spend up to $80 worth of COD Points. Each turtle is part of a premium bundle expected to cost 2,400 COD Points, or $19.99. Additionally, a premium event pass for the Turtles crossover, which includes exclusive cosmetics like Splinter, will set players back another 1,100 COD Points, or $10.
While these cosmetics do not impact gameplay, the steep pricing has led to criticism. Many players feel that the monetization strategy of *Black Ops 6* is beginning to resemble that of free-to-play games like *Fortnite*. The introduction of a second premium event pass, following the controversial Squid Game crossover, has intensified these sentiments. Some community members argue that if *Black Ops 6* continues to monetize in this manner, it should consider transitioning to a free-to-play model for its multiplayer component.
The community's frustration is evident in comments like those from redditor II_JangoFett_II, who called out Activision's "gross greed," and Hipapitapotamus, who lamented the loss of free, universally appealing event rewards. APensiveMonkey humorously pointed out the absurdity of the Turtles using guns, highlighting a disconnect with the crossover's theme.
Activision's monetization of *Black Ops 6* extends beyond the Turtles crossover. Each season features a new battle pass, with the base version costing 1,100 COD Points / $9.99, and a premium BlackCell version priced at $29.99. Coupled with ongoing store offerings, the cumulative cost for players can be substantial. PunisherR35 expressed the sentiment that if this trend continues, *Call of Duty* should adopt a free-to-play model for its multiplayer and campaign modes.
Despite the outcry, Activision and its parent company Microsoft seem unlikely to alter their strategy, given *Black Ops 6*'s record-breaking launch and significant sales increase compared to the previous year's *Modern Warfare 3*. The financial success of the franchise, underscored by Microsoft's $69 billion acquisition of Activision, suggests that the current monetization model will persist, even as the community continues to push for change.
