Los Angeles, California – Call of Duty players have once again expressed outrage over the high price of a new cosmetic item in the game. The source of discontent this time is a Modern Warfare 3 crossover skin inspired by Dune: Part Two, which comes with a hefty price tag of $40. Players are required to purchase specific bundles during the event to unlock this exclusive cosmetic.
The cosmetic in question is the Paul Atreides Feda Ykin Stealthsuit, which is part of a series of crossover cosmetics released alongside the latest installment of Dune. Unlike previous crossovers where items could be purchased outright, this skin can only be obtained by buying specific bundles. Players must acquire both the Paul Atreides Operator and Harkonnen Tracer Pack bundles, each costing 2,400 CoD Points (a total of $40).
The community’s dissatisfaction with the high cost of cosmetics in Call of Duty games is not a new issue. Previous releases, including MW3 and Warzone, have featured expensive cosmetic items that have sparked controversy among players. The recent Godzilla x Kong crossover item, for example, cost $80 in bundle purchases. Players are questioning whether the exorbitant prices for cosmetics are justified, especially when the value of the items is called into question.
Critics argue that the high prices for cosmetics in games like Call of Duty are becoming the new norm in the gaming industry, with publishers seemingly intent on extracting maximum revenue from players. Games like Overwatch 2, Fortnite, and others have also faced backlash for their expensive cosmetic items, raising concerns about the financial burden on players who wish to collect these items.
In addition to the high prices, some players are voicing concerns about the potential pay-to-win nature of these cosmetics. Past instances in Call of Duty games, such as the Bomb Squad and Groot skins in Warzone 2.0, have raised suspicions about whether certain cosmetics provide an unfair advantage to paying players. If the Dune Stealthsuit offers tangible gameplay advantages, some players argue that spending $40 on a cosmetic item could be seen as a pay-to-win tactic.
Overall, the debate surrounding the high cost of cosmetics in games like Call of Duty highlights a larger issue of player exploitation and the ethical implications of monetizing in-game items. Players continue to grapple with the dilemma of whether to invest significant sums in cosmetics that may offer more than just visual enhancements.