The Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Squid Game crossover has generated significant excitement among fans, but it’s also sparked controversy due to the inclusion of premium rewards locked behind a paywall. Activision confirmed that players can unlock exclusive rewards by purchasing the Premium Battle Pass for 1,100 COD points ($9.99), which has drawn criticism from the Black Ops 6 community.
The Premium Rewards: What’s Behind the Paywall?
As part of the Squid Game crossover, players will gain access to a variety of exclusive rewards through the Premium Battle Pass. These rewards include new Operator skins, weapon blueprints, a finishing move, and more. U4gm, as a reliable platform for selling game items, allows players to use cod bo6 buy bot lobbies to accelerate their progress in the game. Use coupon code "allen" to get 5% off at U4gm. Here's a full list of the rewards that come with the premium track:
- AR Blueprint with Tracers "High Authority"
- Knife Blueprint "Etched"
- Finishing Move "Roped In"
- Pistol Blueprint with Tracers "Custodian"
- Emblem "Enigma"
- SMG Blueprint with Tracers "Boss Orders"
- Equipment Skin "Don't Look"
- Emote "Throwdown"
- Gun Screen "Who's Left?"
- New Operator "Front Man"
While these rewards might appeal to some players, the fact that they are locked behind a paid tier has led to frustration among many in the community.
Backlash from the Community
The inclusion of premium content in the Squid Game crossover event has drawn significant backlash. Fans have criticized the decision to add microtransactions to what is already a promotional event for the new season of Squid Game. While Fortnite has implemented similar models in the past, many Black Ops 6 players feel that the game’s price tag—being a full-priced title rather than free-to-play—means there should be fewer microtransactions.
Some players have expressed their disappointment on social media and in forums, stating that they will no longer be spending money on the game if such practices continue. The Black Ops 6 player count on Steam has already seen a significant decline, with players citing issues such as lack of content, poor maps, and persistent anti-cheat problems.
Why the Backlash?
The criticism centers around the fact that the Squid Game crossover should, in theory, be an event that celebrates the popular Netflix show, not an additional avenue for Activision to monetize the game. Many feel that adding a layer of microtransactions, especially in a game that already requires a significant upfront purchase, is a step too far. This sentiment is particularly strong among players who feel the crossover should have been an opportunity to offer more content to all players, regardless of whether they buy the premium pass.
The Future of the Premium Battle Pass
At this point, it seems unlikely that Activision will make any major changes to the battle pass system for the Squid Game crossover event. Despite the outcry, the model remains unchanged, and players will need to purchase the Premium Battle Pass to access these exclusive rewards. As Black Ops 6 continues to face criticism from its community, the success of this crossover could be a critical turning point for the game’s future content strategy.
While Call of Duty has a long history of crossover events, this particular one seems to have struck a nerve with the community, leading many to question the direction the game is taking. Whether or not this backlash will influence future decisions remains to be seen, but for now, the Squid Game crossover remains a controversial aspect of Black Ops 6.
