Activision’s latest *Call of Duty: Black Ops 6* Season 02 Reloaded update, set to launch on February 20, has unveiled a surprising crossover with *Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles*. While the collaboration has generated buzz, it's also sparking controversy due to its steep price tag — potentially up to $90 in COD Points — prompting fans to question whether *Black Ops 6* should just adopt a free-to-play model altogether.
The crossover introduces four exclusive premium bundles, each featuring one of the iconic turtles — Leonardo, Donatello, Michelangelo, and Raphael. Based on past collaborations, each bundle is expected to cost 2,400 COD Points (approximately $19.99), meaning players looking to collect all four could be spending close to $80. In addition to these bundles, Activision has launched a premium event pass for the crossover at 1,100 COD Points ($10), which includes Splinter — a character that can only be obtained through this paid track. The free version of the event offers two Foot Clan soldier skins and other cosmetic items.
While none of the content impacts gameplay or is required to compete in multiplayer, the sheer volume of paid cosmetics has triggered backlash from parts of the community. Many players argue that crossovers like this are easy to skip, allowing those who prefer to spend more to enjoy the extra flair. However, the growing number of monetized features has led some to accuse Activision of treating *Black Ops 6* like a free-to-play title such as *Fortnite*, despite its $70 entry fee.
“Activision casually glossing over the fact that they want you to pay $80+ if you want the 4 Turtles, plus another $10+ if you want the TMNT event pass rewards,”
— redditor II\_JangoFett\_II
Fans have taken to forums and Reddit to express their frustration. User Hipapitapotamus noted, “Guess we can expect an event pass sold every season now. Remember when events were good and got you cool universal camos for free?” Others, like APensiveMonkey, questioned the thematic fit of the crossover: “The Turtles don’t use guns. Their fingers wouldn’t even... I hate this...”
Beyond the Turtle-themed content, *Black Ops 6* already features a standard battle pass system, with a base tier costing 1,100 COD Points ($9.99) and a premium BlackCell upgrade priced at $29.99. Combined with regular in-game store rotations and now the new premium event pass, many players feel overwhelmed by the constant push to spend more.
“So they expect the playerbase to buy the game itself, buy the battle pass/black cell and now this? Na that's too much.”
— PunisherR35
Critics point out that while such monetization might be acceptable for free-to-play titles like *Warzone*, applying the same strategy to a full-priced $70 game feels excessive. This pricing model has led many to suggest that *Call of Duty* Multiplayer should follow Warzone’s lead and become free-to-play outright — a sentiment that continues to grow louder with each new microtransaction-laden update.
Despite the backlash, Activision shows no signs of slowing down. With *Black Ops 6* marking the franchise’s most successful launch to date and setting new Game Pass subscription records, the financial incentives for maintaining the current monetization approach remain strong. Microsoft, having acquired Activision in a record-breaking $69 billion deal, is likely pleased with the continued profitability of the Call of Duty brand across platforms.
