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 high cost of in-game skins. This follows a pattern of expensive cosmetic items in the game, further fueling player frustration.

Black Ops 6 Faces Fan Backlash Over Expensive TMNT Skins

The Season 2 Reloaded event features the TMNT characters—Leonardo, Raphael, Michelangelo, and Donatello—each priced at $20. Master Splinter’s skin is available via the premium Battle Pass for $10. Adding the cost of all the turtle skins and the weapon blueprint brings the total to a hefty $100. This pricing model 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, are prevalent among disgruntled fans. One Reddit user, neverclaimsurv, aptly 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 insult to injury, these purchased skins are likely to be unusable in future Black Ops installments. This limited lifespan of cosmetic purchases is a key 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 multiple paid battle pass tiers further amplify the perceived value proposition.

Despite being the highest-grossing video game in the United States in 2024, Activision's reliance on expensive microtransactions is facing increasing scrutiny. While future paid crossover events are likely, sustained player pressure could potentially force a shift in Activision's monetization strategy.

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, significant technical problems plague the game. Players report frequent crashes, hindering gameplay. The prevalence of hackers further exacerbates the negative user experience, with reports of matches being ruined before they even begin. One Steam user, LemonRain, succinctly summarized the technical issues: "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."

Furthermore, Activision's increasing use of AI has also drawn criticism. Some users are even using AI chatbots to generate negative reviews 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 these widespread complaints and negative reviews, Black Ops 6 continues to generate substantial revenue, primarily driven by its costly battle pass system. The game's financial success, however, is increasingly at odds with the growing dissatisfaction among its player base.