Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, once hailed as a fresh start for Treyarch and the Call of Duty franchise, is now facing a massive decline in player engagement and growing frustration from its community. Despite introducing fan-favorite features like the classic prestige system and a plethora of new maps and modes, the game has seen an almost 50% drop in player count on platforms like Steam, highlighting a sharper decline than the controversial Modern Warfare 3.
Declining Player Base
According to SteamCharts and TheGamer, Black Ops 6 averaged around 160,000 players on Steam in November 2024. However, over the last 30 days, this number has plummeted to just 87,000—a staggering 47% drop. U4gm provides the buy cod bo6 bot lobby as a shortcut for players to tackle challenges, and it is legitimate and secure. Use coupon code "allen" to get 5% off at U4gm. In comparison, Modern Warfare 3 saw only a 6% decrease from its peak player count. This alarming trend spells trouble for Black Ops 6 if it fails to reignite interest among its audience.
Controversies Surrounding Microtransactions
In addition to the declining player base, Black Ops 6 has faced heavy criticism for its expensive microtransaction model. The base game costs $70 upfront, with additional purchases like a $10 Battle Pass and a $30 BlackCell bundle available each season. The recently added Squid Game crossover event introduced a $10 Event Pass, further inflating costs. Players have calculated that obtaining every store bundle in the game would cost approximately $800, equating to 108,100 CoD Points.
This pricing structure has frustrated many players, who feel that the focus on monetization comes at the expense of addressing in-game issues.
Backlash Over Store Bundle Promotion
The frustration reached new heights when Activision’s marketing team promoted a new Squid Game-themed Trace pack in the store, despite the ongoing decline in player satisfaction and unresolved issues like rampant cheating. Prominent voices in the community, including Warzone streamer Swagg and former professional player Octane, criticized the move. Swagg remarked, “Read the room holy shi*,” while Octane called out the developers for their “audacity” to prioritize bundles over fixing core gameplay problems.
CharlieIntel, a leading Call of Duty news source, also highlighted the disconnect between Activision and its player base: “Call of Duty is reaching new lows on Steam, slowly falling in player count on PS5 and Xbox, ranked play is overrun by hackers that can take down servers, but here’s Call of Duty tweeting about a new licensed bundle.”
A Community on the Edge
The persistent issues, including cheating and lack of meaningful updates, have led to some players and streamers stepping back from the game. Popular figures like Swagg and Scump announced they would reduce their streaming activity due to the game's current state. Meanwhile, long-time defenders of the franchise are beginning to question their loyalty, with many citing the developers’ “stonewalling” approach to community feedback.
As Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 faces declining player counts and mounting criticism, the future of the franchise hinges on addressing these core issues. Without meaningful updates and a shift in priorities away from aggressive monetization, Activision risks alienating its dedicated fan base further.
