Activision's TMNT Black Ops 6 Crossover Raises Free-to-Play Debate

Call of Duty's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles crossover reportedly requires up to $90 worth of COD Points to unlock all content—prompting players to suggest Activision should make Black Ops 6 free-to-play instead.

Activision revealed Black Ops 6 Season 02 Reloaded content arriving February 20, including details of the mid-season TMNT collaboration.

Each turtle—Leonardo, Donatello, Michelangelo, and Raphael—has a separate premium bundle priced at 2,400 COD Points ($19.99) based on previous collaborations. Acquiring all four would cost players $80.

The crossover also introduces a premium event pass costing 1,100 COD Points ($10), offering exclusive cosmetics including a Master Splinter operator skin—available only through purchase. Free-track rewards include Foot Clan soldier skins.

While the TMNT content avoids gameplay advantages, backlash persists regarding pricing decisions. Some players argue Activision treats Black Ops 6 like a free-to-play title despite its $70 price tag.

"Activision casually expects $80+ for all turtles plus $10 more for the event pass," criticized Reddit user II_JangoFett_II. "Their greed knows no limits."

"Remember when events rewarded players with free universal camos?" commented Hipapitapotamus.

"Turtles don't even use guns—this crossover makes no sense," added APensiveMonkey.

The controversy intensifies Call of Duty's existing monetization layers: $9.99 seasonal battle passes, $29.99 BlackCell upgrades, and constant store bundles. The premium event pass—debuted with Squid Game—now adds another paid tier.

"Expecting players to buy the game, battle passes, AND event passes is ridiculous," said PunisherR35. "Multiplayer should go free-to-play."

While Activision's monetization strategy remains successful—Black Ops 6 broke franchise sales and Game Pass records—the standardized approach between premium and free-to-play Warzone increasingly frustrates core players.

With mechanics mirroring Fortnite and Apex Legends, calls grow louder for Activision to reconsider charging $70 upfront while implementing free-to-play monetization models.