Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 recently introduced a premium “Surprise Gift” emote that allows players to hide in a cardboard box before jumping out and shocking unsuspecting foes, giving those who own this paid emote a competitive edge over their opponents. This has led to players blaming Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 for introducing pay-to-win elements, underscoring the tough balance between offering new premium cosmetics and preserving a level playing field for those who don’t purchase them.
This isn’t the first time Call of Duty cosmetics have been labeled pay-to-win. The all-black Roze “Rook” skin for Warzone was heavily criticized by the Call of Duty community, as it allowed players to blend into the shadows and become almost invisible. Developer Razen Software then tweaked the skin to make it more visible, ending claims that Warzone was letting those who purchased skins get an edge on their enemies. The T-800 Terminator skin was also changed to increase its visibility, as its flat model made it harder to see compared to other operators.
Members of the Call of Duty community call for Black Ops 6 developer Treyarch Studios to bring back one of the...
