Fans are growing increasingly frustrated with the high costs of skins in Black Ops 6, particularly following the announcement of an upcoming crossover with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (TMNT). Let's delve into why some fans are expressing dissatisfaction with Activision's monetization strategies.
Black Ops 6 Facing Backlash From Fans
BO6 Expensive Crossover TMNT Skins
The latest crossover event in Black Ops 6 featuring the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles as part of its Season 2 Reloaded has left fans disappointed due to the steep prices of the skins. Each turtle—Leonardo, Raphael, Michelangelo, and Donatello—costs $20 to unlock, while Master Splinter's skin requires a $10 purchase of the Battlepass Premium Track. Collectively, this totals $100, excluding the additional $10 for a TMNT-themed weapon blueprint, which is a cosmetic variant of Master Splinter's weapon.
The dissatisfaction stems from the fact that Black Ops 6 is not a free-to-play game; it retails at $69.99. Fans feel the added cost for skins is excessive, especially when compared to similar games like Fortnite. As one 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, there's concern that these skins won't carry over to future Black Ops titles, rendering them a short-term investment. Reddit user SellMeYourSirin highlighted this 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." For context, the first tier is free, but the other two require payment.
Given Black Ops 6's status as the highest-grossing video game in the United States in 2024, Activision is likely to continue with paid crossover events. However, fan pressure could influence future monetization strategies.
Black Ops 6’s Mixed Steam Review
Black Ops 6 currently holds a "Mixed" rating on Steam, with only 47% of its 10,696 user reviews recommending the game. The criticism isn't limited to the pricey skins; players also report frequent PC crashes and an influx of hackers disrupting multiplayer gameplay. Additionally, there's discontent over Activision's 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 face challenges with hackers who can instantly kill opponents without starting the match. One player waited 15 minutes in a lobby only to be matched with hackers.
In a unique form of protest against Activision's use of AI, some users have employed AI chatbots like ChatGPT to generate negative reviews. Steam user 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 issues, Black Ops 6 continues to generate significant revenue, largely driven by its costly battle passes, which set it apart from other shooter games in the market.
