Activision’s announcement of the Squid Game crossover event in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 has stirred up controversy, particularly due to the inclusion of a Premium Battle Pass that locks some rewards behind a paywall. While the crossover event itself has generated excitement, the monetization strategy has sparked significant backlash from the Call of Duty community.

Premium Battle Pass and Paywalled Rewards
The Squid Game crossover event offers a variety of exclusive rewards, but players will need to purchase the Premium Battle Pass for 1,100 COD points (approximately $9.99) to unlock several coveted items. The premium rewards include a new Operator "Front Man," along with several weapon blueprints, an emblem, an equipment skin, and even a finishing move. Among the notable items are:
- 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"

Many fans have expressed disappointment that some of the event's most exciting rewards are locked behind a paywall, especially since the Squid Game collaboration is tied to the promotion of the new season of the Netflix series. Players can buy cod bo6 cheap redeem codes from U4gm to unlock exclusive in-game items. Use coupon code "allen" to get 5% off at U4gm. Players feel that this additional layer of microtransactions is unnecessary and detracts from the enjoyment of the event.

Backlash from the Community
While Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 had a successful launch, its player base has seen a noticeable decline, with many criticizing the game’s lack of engaging content, poor map offerings, and persistent anti-cheat issues. These issues, combined with the monetization of the Squid Game crossover, have contributed to further dissatisfaction. Fans are particularly upset because Black Ops 6 is not a free-to-play title, unlike other games such as Fortnite, which have incorporated similar premium battle passes in the past. Given the full purchase price of the game, players feel that having to spend extra money on in-game content is unfair.

Some fans have even gone as far as stating they will no longer spend money on the game if this trend continues, expressing frustration that the crossover event, which should be an exciting addition, has instead become a symbol of the game's increasing focus on microtransactions.

Despite the backlash, it seems unlikely that Activision will alter its approach to the Squid Game crossover event or the Premium Battle Pass. While similar collaborations in free-to-play games may have been better received, the Call of Duty community’s frustrations suggest that Black Ops 6 may need to rethink its monetization strategy moving forward to regain player trust and engagement. For now, fans will have to decide whether the rewards are worth the additional cost or if the premium battle pass is yet another example of the growing trend of microtransactions in gaming.