BO6 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Crossover Disappoints Fans Due to Exorbitant Prices

Black Ops 6's latest crossover with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (TMNT) has sparked significant backlash from fans due to the exorbitant prices of the new skins. This follows a pattern of expensive cosmetic items within the game, further fueling player discontent.

Black Ops 6 Faces Fan Backlash Over Expensive TMNT Skins

The Season 2 Reloaded event's TMNT crossover features Leonardo, Raphael, Michelangelo, and Donatello skins, each priced at $20. Master Splinter's skin is available via the premium Battle Pass track for an additional $10. A TMNT-themed weapon blueprint costs another $10, bringing the total cost to $90 just for the cosmetic items. This pricing has angered many players, especially considering Black Ops 6's $69.99 price tag. Comparisons to free-to-play games like Fortnite, where similar bundles are significantly cheaper, have further fueled the outrage. Reddit user neverclaimsurv commented, "That is INSANE...In Fortnite I think I paid $25.00 for all 4 turtles, and that’s a free game."

Adding to the frustration, these purchased skins are likely not transferable to future Black Ops installments. This limited lifespan of the cosmetic purchases is a major point of contention, with Reddit user SellMeYourSirin 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." The game's three-tiered Battle Pass system, with two paid tiers, exacerbates the issue.

Despite being the highest-grossing video game in the United States in 2024, Activision's reliance on costly crossover events and Battle Passes is facing increasing pushback. Whether this pressure will influence future monetization strategies remains to be seen.

Black Ops 6's Mixed Steam Reviews Reflect Player Concerns

Black Ops 6 currently holds a "Mixed" rating on Steam, with only 47% of 10,696 user reviews recommending the game. Beyond the pricing issues, players report numerous technical problems, including game crashes and widespread hacking. Steam user LemonRain summarizes the experience: "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."

Other players cite rampant hacking, with some reporting matches ruined by cheaters who can instantly kill opponents. One user described waiting 15 minutes in a lobby only to be matched with hackers.

Activision's increased use of AI has also drawn criticism, with some users posting negative reviews generated by AI chatbots like ChatGPT as a form of protest. Steam user Rundur's review exemplifies this: "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 the overwhelmingly negative player feedback, Black Ops 6 continues to generate substantial revenue through its expensive Battle Pass system. The future of Activision's monetization strategy, however, remains uncertain in light of the growing player dissatisfaction.