Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 continues to struggle with its player retention, with many fans voicing dissatisfaction over the game's monetization practices, especially the latest Squid Game crossover event. The event, which features a free battle pass with exclusive cosmetic rewards, has been overshadowed by the introduction of a paid battle pass, sparking a negative reaction from players. U4gm offers cod bo6 bot lobby for sale that enable players to achieve higher kill counts. Use coupon code "allen" to get 5% off at U4gm.

Squid Game Collaboration & Monetization Backlash

The Squid Game crossover, launched in early January 2025, introduces limited-time content inspired by the popular Netflix series. While a free battle pass is available, offering skins, emblems, and other items, the event also includes a premium battle pass locked behind a paywall costing 1,100 CoD Points (roughly $10). This marks the first time a Call of Duty event has featured a paid set of in-game rewards, leading to criticism from long-time players who are already frustrated with the game's microtransactions.

Critics argue that Black Ops 6 is exploiting FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) tactics, as the event's content will be unobtainable after January 24, 2025. The inclusion of a paid battle pass has worsened the situation, especially given that the game already carries a $70 price tag, with additional monetization through premium bundles. Many feel that Activision’s aggressive approach to microtransactions is detracting from the overall gaming experience.

Declining Player Count

Since its strong launch in late 2024, Black Ops 6 has seen a sharp decline in player numbers. According to Steam Charts, the game lost over 70,000 average players in December, with the trend continuing into January. While the Squid Game event launched in January may have contributed to some of this drop, player dissatisfaction with the game’s monetization, alongside reports of gameplay issues such as hackers and slow anti-cheat improvements, has played a significant role in the decline.

Despite boasting a highly successful launch, Black Ops 6 has failed to retain its peak player base, which surpassed 300,000 concurrent players on Steam. As is typical with hyped launches, a drop in player numbers is expected, but the drastic decline points to larger issues with the game's design and business practices.

The Way Forward for Black Ops 6

To address the decline in player numbers, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 needs to rethink its approach to monetization. Fans have expressed frustration with the heavy emphasis on microtransactions, particularly when the base game and additional DLCs come at a premium price. Reducing the focus on paid content and addressing persistent gameplay issues such as hackers could help regain player trust.

While the Squid Game event could have been a successful way to engage the community, its controversial monetization model and the game's ongoing gameplay problems have led to a significant loss of player engagement. Activision may need to reconsider its current strategies to prevent further damage to the Black Ops series' reputation.