TMNT Crossover Fails: High Prices Disappoint Fans

Black Ops 6's latest crossover with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (TMNT) has sparked significant backlash from fans due to the exorbitant pricing of its cosmetic content. This follows a pattern of expensive in-game purchases, leaving many players feeling frustrated.

Black Ops 6 Faces Fan Backlash Over Pricing

Expensive TMNT Skins in BO6

The Season 2 Reloaded event's TMNT crossover features individual skins for Leonardo, Raphael, Michelangelo, and Donatello, each priced at $20. Master Splinter's skin is available through the premium Battle Pass track for an additional $10. A TMNT-themed weapon blueprint adds another $10 to the total, bringing the potential cost to a staggering $100. This pricing model has angered many players, especially considering Black Ops 6's initial cost of $69.99. Comparisons to free-to-play games like Fortnite, where similar bundles are significantly cheaper, have 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, there's little guarantee these skins will carry over to future Black Ops installments. This means players who invest heavily in these cosmetics may lose access to them once a new game launches. Reddit user SellMeYourSirin noted, "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—one free, two paid—further exacerbates the issue.

Despite being the highest-grossing video game in the United States in 2024, Activision's reliance on expensive crossover events is facing increasing scrutiny. While future paid events are likely, continued fan pressure could potentially influence Activision's monetization strategies.

Black Ops 6's Mixed Steam Reception

Black Ops 6 currently holds a "Mixed" rating on Steam, with only 47% of 10,696 user reviews recommending the game. Criticisms extend beyond pricing, encompassing widespread reports of game crashes, rampant hacking in multiplayer, and concerns over Activision's increasing use of AI.

Steam user LemonRain summarized the crashing issue: "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 report encountering hackers capable of instantly eliminating opponents, sometimes even before matches begin. One user described waiting 15 minutes in a lobby only to be matched with hackers.

In protest against Activision's increased reliance on AI, some users have even employed AI chatbots like ChatGPT to generate negative Steam reviews. 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 feedback, Black Ops 6 continues to generate substantial revenue through its costly battle passes, highlighting a concerning trend in the gaming industry.