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[Windows Central] Activision decides Call of Duty Black Ops 6 players don't spend enough money, introduces a second concurrent battle pass

Topher

Identifies as young
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is a first-person arcade-style shooter set during Operation Desert Storm. With a slick campaign and multiplayer heralded by millions across the globe, Black Ops 6 is the twenty-first installment of the series, and it saw the biggest launch ever in Call of Duty history. You wouldn't know it had been the biggest launch in history, since Activision seems to be struggling for cash — they're adding a second type of premium pass on top of the existing monetization methods.

This time, it's via a big "Squid Game Premium Event Pass." I can see it now. Without this, Microsoft shareholders would immediately have to start selling up and start hand car wash businesses to make ends meets. Once arriving, they start selling premium additions like wax, antenna cleanings, undercarriage washes, and more! Each addition pitched as being more exciting than the last.

Wait, isn't this a $69 billion dollar company that just released a $70 game that saw the biggest launch in history, all while surpassing 500 million total franchise sales? I could have sworn there was also a $10 battle pass with an additional $10 purchase that could boost your experience gain in the pass. I think there's also some $30 BlackCell addon for each pass, which grants additional Battle Pass rewards. This is the same game, right? Surely, they don't need even more money?

Introducing the Squid Game Event Pass​

Event announcement for Call of Duty Black Ops 6



As pictured above, the image states:

"The newly announced Squid Game arrives in Black Ops 6 and Call of Duty: Warzone. Explore an exhilarating Event Pass, where the Premium Track route allows for more incredible rewards, including the Front Man Operator. Plus, a myriad of LTM's will feature signature sinister takes on Red Light/Green Light mechanics."

Okay, so we've seen Events before. In fact, I've participated in many events over the years, including retro warfare for MW3, which took place last June. What's this Premium Track? Are they telling me there's another list of items locked behind another microtransaction? Don't take my rant for it; here are some other players who aren't too happy, either.









Straight from the player's mouths, and can you blame them? After a supposed exodus of players recently angered by on-going issues with cheating players, this isn't the goodwill people are looking for to come back to. Nobody wants to open the game that they potentially already spent $100+ on the game and season passes, only to be asked for more money. It's intrusive and begs the question of where the priorities currently lie for Activision.

I understand this creation was lined up for months prior and licensed content costs money, but there also needs to be some flexibility in reading your community. A full-steam-ahead approach, even if you're Call of Duty, doesn't bode well with its player base that desperately wants changes made to the game. On top of all of this, there will also be premium store bundles for players to buy.

If you're a player, where does this put you? I personally join the bulk of the community in solace as I watch even more greed take over the franchise I've spent thousands of hours on. At this point, I'm surprised they haven't added a Scrooge McDuck bundle for a snarky meta-joke.



Matthew Broderick GIF
 

LRKD

Member
Insane stuff, I don't care too much about the passes, or passes on passes. It's retarded, and stupid, but I won't be buying them and I don't want to. The thing that bothers me is the skins cost way too much, I don't buy them, but occasionally I'll see one I do want, and I'll get salty about the price lol. But i see so many people with them apparently kids don't value their money the same. Like a skins shouldn't be more than $5. I felt this way in Fortnite, Overwatch, Call of Duty, doesn't matter what your game is. A skin shouldn't be 1/3rd of the price of a brand-new game, and it sure as hell should be cheaper than a burger.
 

BennyBlanco

aka IMurRIVAL69
Insane stuff, I don't care too much about the passes, or passes on passes. It's retarded, and stupid, but I won't be buying them and I don't want to. The thing that bothers me is the skins cost way too much, I don't buy them, but occasionally I'll see one I do want, and I'll get salty about the price lol. But i see so many people with them apparently kids don't value their money the same. Like a skins shouldn't be more than $5. I felt this way in Fortnite, Overwatch, Call of Duty, doesn't matter what your game is. A skin shouldn't be 1/3rd of the price of a brand-new game, and it sure as hell should be cheaper than a burger.

I never understood the appeal in CoD. The game is so fast paced that it doesn’t really matter. You get sniped in the back the momemt you spawn from across the map by snoop dogg smoking a bong or a default skin, who really cares?
 
I will continue to be a broken record on this topic: Microsoft only knows one business model, and that is the extortion behavior of enterprise software. Crowd out competitors and milk your captive audience.

If there is one potential positive to come out of the ATVI acquisition, it's that they might finally push CoD players too far. Do enough of this and the market is ripe for disruption.
 

StereoVsn

Gold Member
MS CEO probably loving every second of this. Why have one sub for a game when you can have three subs for one game? Four if you play on GP lol
Now, what if MS can package up an add-on CoPilot sub that will snipe enemies across the map for you? 🤔🧐

Shareholder Value Train incoming!
oi5x9Xw.jpeg


CoPilot is actually pretty bad at images. I should have used Google, Misjourney or Meta, but tried to stay true to the theme! 😉
 
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I mean, don't buy it? But also, it sounds like there's an operator on it, which means if the price of this "premium track" is cheaper than regular operator bundles, then this is a complete nothingburger.
 

Ceadeus

Member
That's greedy as hell, bunch of bozo at Activision.

Meanwhile, funnily enough, I'm currently playing Plants vs Zombies Battle for Neighborville. The game is PACKED with content and unlockables. It's all there for you to grind and unlock just like the good old time.

Also the game is cheap and still played and popular. I highly suggest anyone to try this incredible game, it plays like a charm on any "good enough" PC. Currently at 3$ on steam! It's a no brainer, especially if you have someone to play with because it has a coop campaign with unlockables skins and emotes etc..

Pop Cap should work on another PvZ. The series is top tier quality in every aspect.
 
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MacReady13

Member
That Gamepass effect I see is working wonders for Microsoft! Imagine thinking that not having a game sell on console or on PC on the Xbox app would be a great idea! Keep renting those games, Xbox shills and this is the kind of shit you can expect to continue happening. Only so much Steam and PlayStation can do to get Xbox out of the shit they’ve done to themselves.
 

rm082e

Member
I thought this was normal? Event passes have been a thing for years in Fortnite.

Yep. I just asked my son and he said they currently have 5 different battle passes active between all the different modes.

But Fortnite is free. I'm not clear if the COD battle passes are specific to this year's paid game, or the F2P mode (warzone?)
 

nemiroff

Gold Member
Why should I give a shit. It's a free market. It's clearly an optional thingy. If people are interested, they'll buy it. If they're happy, good for them. I'm not interested, I'm not buying it, no guns to my head, no problem.
 

IAmRei

Member
Reminds me, last time I play CoD is BO...
Never bother to play it online, i don't like competition either. I miss the day we got bots...
 

onQ123

Gold Member
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is a first-person arcade-style shooter set during Operation Desert Storm. With a slick campaign and multiplayer heralded by millions across the globe, Black Ops 6 is the twenty-first installment of the series, and it saw the biggest launch ever in Call of Duty history. You wouldn't know it had been the biggest launch in history, since Activision seems to be struggling for cash — they're adding a second type of premium pass on top of the existing monetization methods.

This time, it's via a big "Squid Game Premium Event Pass." I can see it now. Without this, Microsoft shareholders would immediately have to start selling up and start hand car wash businesses to make ends meets. Once arriving, they start selling premium additions like wax, antenna cleanings, undercarriage washes, and more! Each addition pitched as being more exciting than the last.

Wait, isn't this a $69 billion dollar company that just released a $70 game that saw the biggest launch in history, all while surpassing 500 million total franchise sales? I could have sworn there was also a $10 battle pass with an additional $10 purchase that could boost your experience gain in the pass. I think there's also some $30 BlackCell addon for each pass, which grants additional Battle Pass rewards. This is the same game, right? Surely, they don't need even more money?

Introducing the Squid Game Event Pass​

Event announcement for Call of Duty Black Ops 6



As pictured above, the image states:

"The newly announced Squid Game arrives in Black Ops 6 and Call of Duty: Warzone. Explore an exhilarating Event Pass, where the Premium Track route allows for more incredible rewards, including the Front Man Operator. Plus, a myriad of LTM's will feature signature sinister takes on Red Light/Green Light mechanics."

Okay, so we've seen Events before. In fact, I've participated in many events over the years, including retro warfare for MW3, which took place last June. What's this Premium Track? Are they telling me there's another list of items locked behind another microtransaction? Don't take my rant for it; here are some other players who aren't too happy, either.









Straight from the player's mouths, and can you blame them? After a supposed exodus of players recently angered by on-going issues with cheating players, this isn't the goodwill people are looking for to come back to. Nobody wants to open the game that they potentially already spent $100+ on the game and season passes, only to be asked for more money. It's intrusive and begs the question of where the priorities currently lie for Activision.

I understand this creation was lined up for months prior and licensed content costs money, but there also needs to be some flexibility in reading your community. A full-steam-ahead approach, even if you're Call of Duty, doesn't bode well with its player base that desperately wants changes made to the game. On top of all of this, there will also be premium store bundles for players to buy.

If you're a player, where does this put you? I personally join the bulk of the community in solace as I watch even more greed take over the franchise I've spent thousands of hours on. At this point, I'm surprised they haven't added a Scrooge McDuck bundle for a snarky meta-joke.



Matthew Broderick GIF



Fortnite making a lot of money everyone wants in on it
 

wipeout364

Member
The previous events had pretty lame rewards so if they are adding more premium content (and it looks like they are) and it’s not too expensive what difference does it make. If it wasn’t in the pass it would just be a bundle you buy for 25 dollars or more. I doubt there will be any new weapons or perks in the event pass.

At the end of the day if you don’t like it don’t buy it, at least the maps are not locked behind paywalls.
 

BigLee74

Member
And?

I occasionally get slightly disappointed that what was once a great shooter with military skins is now a great shooter where I get shot by anthropomorphic lizards and sharks, or ladies in pyjamas, but then I realise all those people that are willing to part with their cash is what pays for the years worth of free content I and millions of others are about to receive.

This will happen irrespective of what billion dollar company owns or produces the game.

As my annoying son would say, it is what it is.
 
There goes the theory of "more players = more engagement = more MTX = more money."

Or it could simply be “more players = more engagement = more MTX = more money = but also hey let’s add more battle passes = more money+

There are other games that have numerous battle passes. Do you think Fortnite is struggling for engagement or revenue? 🤭🤭

Don’t put it past any of these scummy companies to nickel and dime at every chance.
 

ByWatterson

Member
1. I don't care. The full price game has plenty of content to justify the price. Charge all you want for extras.

2. I'm thrilled any time we see evidence of Gamepass's comprehensive failure.
 
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