Who doesn’t get excited about a battle pass? Well, perhaps you, especially if you’re diving into Call of Duty Black Ops 6’s latest Squid Game crossover event. It kicks off today, January 3, and will be a part of our digital lives until January 24.
Here’s the scoop: this event introduces not one but two distinct battle passes—a standard one and a premium version. Both are packed with all sorts of goodies, perfect for showing off to whoever you’re facing down in-game that, yes, you are indeed a fan of those high-stakes TV games like red light, green light. Is this double dose of battle passes a bit too much, even for CoD fans who are no strangers to such systems? It seems the jury is still out on that one—opinions differ quite a bit.
Let’s break down the essentials. According to the very exciting blog post that unveiled the event, players will get to enjoy a fresh multiplayer mode titled Red Light, Green Light. And because it’s Call of Duty, there’s naturally a zombies variant called Dead Light, Green Light.
As you rack up victories, you’ll work your way through the Squid Game Event Pass, which splits into two paths. You have the typical free tier, and then there’s the premium one. This will set you back 1,100 COD Points, translating to about $9.99 or £8.39. Opting for the paid version nets you cool rewards like the “Front Man” operator as a top-tier prize. Meanwhile, the free path offers a couple of Squid Game-themed player skins among other fun items.
Now, according to Activision: “Every player can earn and unlock items along the Free reward track. But there’s more awaiting in the Premium track. By buying the Premium track, you’ll unlock additional thematic rewards right away, including the ‘High Authority’ XM4 Assault Rifle Blueprint, and Blueprints for the Knife, GS45 Pistol, and Saug SMG. Plus, there’s a Concussion Grenade Equipment Skin, a new Finishing Move, the ‘Throwdown’ Emote, the ‘Who’s Left’ Talking Gun Screen, and even more!”
So, how’s the reception? Well, if you scroll through Twitter and Reddit, you’ll see not everyone is thrilled. One Reddit user quipped, “We got battle passes in between battle passes now.” Yet, others seem willing to simply ignore the premium track if it’s not their thing, suggesting that it’s more a matter of personal choice rather than something to be irked over. The endless debate over whether microtransactions for cosmetic items are acceptable continues to rage.
Redditor SuperRSM added some perspective: “The content in the premium pass rivals some 2400+ COD Point bundles in the store. Paying 1100 and engaging in the gameplay seems more reasonable than a lot of what’s usually offered. They could have made this a $20-30 bundle, and no one would have blinked an eye. Just consider it a store bundle and decide if it’s worth it to you.”
It’s also interesting to note that alongside the passes, the event will include several store bundles such as a Pink Guards Tracer Pack, The VIPs Tracer Pack, and the Young-hee Tracer Pack, though the costs for these remain a mystery as of now.
So, what’s your take on battling it out over a battle pass? Jump into the comments and let us know how you feel about this concept!
