Fans are growing increasingly frustrated with the high costs of skins in Black Ops 6, especially following the announcement of the upcoming crossover with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Dive deeper to understand why some fans are expressing dissatisfaction with Activision's monetization strategy!

Black Ops 6 Facing Backlash From Fans

BO6 Expensive Crossover TMNT Skins

The excitement surrounding Black Ops 6's latest crossover event with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (TMNT) during its Season 2 Reloaded has been overshadowed by the steep prices of the skins. Fans are voicing their disappointment over the cost to unlock the iconic turtles—Leonardo, Raphael, Michelangelo, and Donatello, each priced at $20. Additionally, Master Splinter's skin is available through the $10 Battlepass Premium Track. When you add the $10 TMNT-themed weapon blueprint, the total cost for all items reaches a staggering $100.

What's particularly frustrating for fans is that Black Ops 6 is not a free-to-play game; it retails at $69.99. This has led to comparisons with games like Fortnite, where a similar TMNT bundle was available for $25. 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, the longevity of these skins is in question. Given that Black Ops 6 skins are unlikely to carry over to future installments, players feel that their investment in these cosmetic packs may not be worthwhile. 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." The game offers a free first tier, but the subsequent two tiers require additional payment.

As the highest-grossing video game in the United States in 2024, it's doubtful that Activision will scale back on future paid crossover events for Black Ops 6. However, a shift in this trend could occur if the fan base exerts enough pressure.

Black Ops 6’s Mixed Steam Review

Black Ops 6 currently holds a mixed rating on Steam, with only 47% of the 10,696 reviews recommending the game. Beyond the issue of expensive skins, players are reporting significant technical problems, including PC crashes. Steam user LemonRain shared their frustration, saying, "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."

Additionally, the multiplayer experience is being marred by hackers who can instantly kill all enemies without even starting the match. One player recounted waiting 15 minutes in a lobby only to be matched with hackers.

In a unique form of protest against Activision's increasing use of AI, some users have turned to AI chatbots like ChatGPT to generate their negative reviews. Steam user Rundur explained, "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 widespread complaints, Black Ops 6 continues to generate significant revenue, largely driven by its costly battle passes, which are more expensive than those of many other shooter games.