Gamers Dismiss Activision's Technical Glitch Argument for Intrusive Advertisements Instrumentally Placed in Call of Duty's Main Interfaces
Let's Talk CoD: Black Ops 6
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 costs a hefty $70, making waves in the gaming community after ads for in-game cosmetics surfaced in the loadout menu post-Season 4 update on May 28. These ads, removed in a subsequent update on June 2, were dubbed a UI feature "test" that went live in error. Elbow grease and cocktails are flying amongst the player base, upset about Activision's squeezing every last buck outta this game.
Here's what's going down:
📣 Call of Duty #BlackOps6
"A UI feature test" popping up in the loadout menus was, apparently, live in the Season 04 update by accident. Now, it's been yanked from the game.
But the damage is done. The ads have left players fuming about Activision's relentless monetization tactics and struggling to believe these ads were simply a UI snafu.
One player commented, "What the actual fuck? The whole game is already drowning in ads! Who thought it was a good idea to flood the UI with ads?!"
It was just this year that Activision kicked off charging for an in-game event pass as part of a Squid Game 2 crossover. Since then, event passes are still a thing, piling onto the existing costs of seasonal battle passes, BlackCell battle pass upgrades, and Operator/weapon blueprint bundles.
Now, players could be shellin' out $60 a season just on passes, before even considerin' individual operator bundles for character skins and weapon camos. And with six seasons of post-launch content for each annual premium CoD title costing $70 apiece for non-Xbox Game Pass folks, players could be forking over more than $400 to play CoD for a year.
Funny thing, there are those who criticized the inclusion of ads on the loadout menu claim that the monetization push from Activision makes CoD feel more free-to-play than premium. CoD's shared launcher with the free-to-play battle royale experience, Warzone, could've played a part in this perception, as the changes tested in Black Ops 6 were present in the free modes too.
That said, ads for weapon bundles in the loadout menu might've been a clever way to entice players if they'd been added at a different point in Black Ops 6's lifespan. A similar feature, showing unpurchased bundles while choosing an operator and directing players to the store to buy them, is been part of CoD's marketing for years, with nary a peep from the gaming community.
Call of Duty's post-launch support for Black Ops 6 has had its issues since Season 1, though. There's been outrage 'bout the integration between Black Ops 6 and Warzone, and devs are still wrestlin' with rampant cheating and server instability after every update. So, every patch that gets released seems to disable a gameplay mechanic, playlist, or a paid operator skin.
CoD's been rakin' in billions, consistently ranking as a top-seller on all platforms. Even the most loyal supporters, however, are hopping mad about the continued attempts by Activision to siphon every last dime from players' wallets.
Want updates on all things CoD and Xbox? Throw your email in our newsletter! 🤘💥🙌🔥🕹️🎮🕹️🌟🤤
Footnotes:
[1] Activision shoves in-game cosmetics ads down players' throats in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6. (2025, June 2). [Retrieved June 2, 2025] from https://www.drill-in.games/future/news/150778-call-of-duty-black-ops-6-activision-ads-cosmetic-ui-test[2] CoD fans outraged over intrusive ads in CoD Black Ops 6. (2025, June 3). [Retrieved June 3, 2025] from https://www.gamepyscho.com/news/cosmetic-ads-cod-black-ops-6[3] Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 community up in arms over in-game ads. (2025, June 4). [Retrieved June 4, 2025] from https://www.hardcoregamer.com/2025/06/04/call-of-duty-black-ops-6-community-up-in-arms-over-ingame-ads/[4] Tensions boil over: CoD Black Ops 6 community rages over Activision's monetization practices. (2025, June 6). [Retrieved June 6, 2025] from https://www.thegamerstation.com/2025/06/06/tensions-boil-over-call-of-duty-black-ops-6-community-rages-over-activisions-monetization-practices/[5] CoD Black Ops 6 players call for less intrusive marketing and monetization practices. (2025, June 3). [Retrieved June 20, 2025] from https://forums.callofduty.com/search?q=ads%20cosmetics%20monetization%20Black%20Ops%206
- Some gamers are considering switching to PC or Xbox, as they believe these platforms offer more value for their money, especially in light of the ongoing controversy over in-game cosmetic ads in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6.
- The recent surge in smartphone sales might be related to the growing dissatisfaction among Call of Duty players, as they seek alternative forms of entertainment and gaming due to Activision's aggressive monetization practices.
- Advocates for technology regulation are using the Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 ads controversy as an example of the need for stricter guidelines on in-game advertising and microtransactions.
- While discussing gaming and entertainment on social media, many users have shared their disappointment over Activision's methods in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, calling for a shift towards more transparent and player-friendly monetization models.
- As the price of high-end gaming gadgets, such as Windows-based PCs and Xbox devices, continues to escalate, some gamers are increasingly turning to free-to-play games or re-evaluating their spending habits to avoid expensive titles with controversial monetization practices like Call of Duty: Black Ops 6.
