Fans are expressing frustration with the high costs of skins in Black Ops 6, particularly following the upcoming crossover with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Dive deeper to understand why some fans are unhappy with Activision’s monetization strategy!
Black Ops 6 Facing Backlash From Fans
BO6 Expensive Crossover TMNT Skins
The latest crossover event in Black Ops 6 featuring Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (TMNT) as part of Season 2 Reloaded has left fans feeling let down due to the high costs associated with unlocking the skins.
Each turtle—Leonardo, Raphael, Michelangelo, and Donatello—costs $20 to unlock, while Master Splinter's skin is available for $10 through the Battlepass Premium Track. When you add up the cost for all the turtles and the additional $10 TMNT-themed weapon blueprint, you're looking at a hefty $100 total.
What's particularly frustrating for fans is that Black Ops 6 isn't a free-to-play game; it already costs $69.99. This has led to comparisons with other games like Fortnite, where a similar set of TMNT skins was available for $25, and that's a free game. As Reddit user neverclaimsurv pointed out, "That is INSANE. In Fortnite I think I paid $25.00 for all 4 turtles, and that’s a free game."
Moreover, fans are concerned that these skins won't carry over to the next Black Ops installment, rendering their investment temporary. Reddit user SellMeYourSirin highlighted the issue, stating, "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." To clarify, the game offers a free tier and two paid tiers.
As the highest-grossing video game in the United States in 2024, it's unlikely Activision will scale back on future paid crossover events for Black Ops 6. However, continued pressure from fans could potentially shift this trend.
Black Ops 6’s Mixed Steam Review
With a current rating of 10,696 Mixed Steam user reviews (only 47% recommend the game), Black Ops 6 is facing significant criticism. Beyond the expensive skins, players report issues like PC crashes and a high number of hackers disrupting the multiplayer experience. Additionally, Activision's use of AI has drawn ire from the community.
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."
Some players who haven't experienced crashes have nonetheless encountered hackers who can instantly kill all enemies before a match even begins. One player mentioned waiting 15 minutes in a lobby only to be matched with hackers.
In protest against Activision's increasing reliance on AI, some users have posted negative reviews generated by AI chatbots like ChatGPT. Steam user Rundur expressed their discontent, saying, "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 complaints, Black Ops 6 continues to generate substantial revenue, largely due to its lucrative battle passes, which are pricier than those in many other shooter games.
