Fans of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 are expressing frustration over the steep prices of skins, particularly following the announcement of an upcoming crossover with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. This article dives into the reasons behind the fan backlash against Activision's monetization practices.
Black Ops 6 Facing Backlash From Fans
BO6 Expensive Crossover TMNT Skins
The excitement for Black Ops 6's latest crossover event with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (TMNT) as part of its Season 2 Reloaded event has been dampened by the high costs associated with unlocking the skins. Fans are expected to pay $20 for each of the four turtles—Leonardo, Raphael, Michelangelo, and Donatello. Additionally, Master Splinter’s skin is available for $10 through the Battlepass Premium Track. When adding the $10 TMNT-themed weapon blueprint, the total cost for all TMNT-related content reaches a staggering $100.
The disappointment stems not just from the prices but from the fact that Black Ops 6 is a paid game, priced at $69.99. Fans have compared these costs unfavorably to similar offerings in games like Fortnite, where the entire set of TMNT skins can be obtained for $25, and that's for a free-to-play game. "That is INSANE," commented Reddit user neverclaimsurv, highlighting the disparity.
Moreover, the longevity of these purchases is a concern. Given that Black Ops 6 skins are unlikely to carry over to future installments, fans worry that their investments will be short-lived. Reddit user SellMeYourSirin pointed out the issue, noting, "It has everything to do with the fact a full price game (that’s likely gonna be replaced within the next year) has THREE tiers of battle passes."
As the highest-grossing video game in the United States in 2024, Black Ops 6 is expected to continue with its strategy of introducing paid crossover events. However, a shift in this approach may be possible if fans continue to voice their discontent.
Black Ops 6’s Mixed Steam Review
Black Ops 6 currently holds a mixed rating on Steam, with only 47% of 10,696 reviews recommending the game. The high cost of skins is just one of several issues players are facing. Many report their PCs crashing during gameplay, while others are frustrated by the prevalence of hackers in multiplayer modes and Activision's increasing use of AI.
Steam user LemonRain shared their frustration, stating, "this game has had problems with hard crashing since launch, but the latest update has made it so I can’t complete a single match. Reinstalling. Safe mode. Support. Nothing works and I have given up."
Players who haven't experienced crashes still encounter issues with hackers who can disrupt matches, such as instantly killing all opponents. One player waited 15 minutes in a lobby only to be matched with hackers.
In response to Activision's reliance on AI, some users have taken to posting AI-generated negative reviews on Steam. Rundur commented, "Since Activision can't be bothered hiring real people anymore, I've decided to take advantage of AI myself and ask ChatGPT to write this negative review for me. Enjoy."
Despite these challenges, Black Ops 6 continues to generate significant revenue, largely driven by its costly battle passes, which are more expensive compared to other shooter games in the market.
