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 in-game skins. This controversy highlights growing concerns about Activision's monetization strategies.

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 $10. Acquiring all five characters thus costs $100, excluding a $10 TMNT-themed weapon blueprint.

This pricing model has infuriated many players, particularly given that Black Ops 6 is a full-priced game ($69.99). Comparisons to free-to-play titles like Fortnite, where similar bundles are significantly cheaper, fuel the discontent. One Reddit user, neverclaimsurv, succinctly summarized the sentiment: "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 is the likelihood that these skins will not carry over to future Black Ops installments. This means players' significant investment is tied to a single game, potentially losing value as the franchise progresses. Reddit user SellMeYourSirin commented, "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."

Despite being the highest-grossing video game in the United States in 2024, Activision's reliance on costly crossover events and battle passes remains a significant point of contention. While future paid events are highly probable, sustained player pressure could potentially influence a shift in strategy.

Black Ops 6's Mixed Steam Reviews Reflect Player Discontent

Black Ops 6 currently holds a "Mixed" rating on Steam, with only 47% of 10,696 user reviews recommending the game. Criticism extends beyond pricing to include technical issues such as game crashes (reported by Steam user LemonRain: "this game has had problems with hard crashing since launch...I can’t complete a single match.") and rampant cheating in multiplayer.

Many players report encountering hackers who can instantly eliminate opponents, often before matches even begin. One user described waiting 15 minutes in a lobby only to be matched with cheaters.

Activision's increasing use of AI has also drawn criticism, with some players posting negative reviews generated by AI chatbots like ChatGPT as a form of protest (as seen in Rundur's Steam review: "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 negative feedback and numerous complaints, Black Ops 6 continues to generate substantial revenue through its costly battle passes, highlighting the ongoing tension between player satisfaction and Activision's monetization practices.