Recently, the newest major entry in the Call of Duty franchise, Black Ops 6, underwent significant changes following its Season 4 rollout. While the update introduced fresh content, controversy emerged over a monetization feature that’s drawn widespread criticism from the player base.
Players have observed new promotional banners appearing prominently within the weapon customization interface, directly advertising premium cosmetic bundles. Previously limited to store sections, these in-menu advertisements now intersect with core gameplay areas—a shift that’s sparked intense backlash.
Many in the player base are expressing frustration that a full-priced title (retailing at $70) continues integrating aggressive microtransaction promotions. Discussions across online communities highlight tensions around monetization strategies in premium games.
This game is still 80€. I get that they [Activision] make most of their money from the store, but I feel like the bare minimum for a premium product would be to not have ads clogging the menus right? – wrote Reddit user FalierTheCat.
Anyone who wanted this bundle would’ve checked the store and bought it. Putting it here [in the weapon menu] isn’t gonna make more people buy it, its just annoying – added SentientGopro115935.
This development fuels concerns about escalating monetization tactics in AAA titles. While current ads remain confined to menu interfaces, players speculate about potential expansions of this approach. The situation underscores ongoing debates about balancing revenue generation with user experience in premium gaming products.