The start of the new Operation Grand Heist brought numerous new content and improvements for Call of Duty: Black Ops 4. However, a specific feature is currently ruining the start of the new season for many fans – loot boxes.
What happened? On February 19, with Operation Grand Heist, the new season of Black Ops 4 began, at least on PS4. The Xbox One and PC will follow a week later.
As part of the accompanying update, the black market, i.e., the in-game shop, was revised. There, loot boxes now expand the microtransaction palette of the game, much to the chagrin of many players.
How do the loot boxes work? The loot boxes are optional and can be earned through the Blackout mode and in the traditional multiplayer mode of the game. They can also be purchased with real money in the black market and offer random content. One crate, meaning one box, costs 200 CoD points, which is approximately 2€.
Currently, only cosmetic items are included. Gameplay advantages cannot be purchased through the boxes. The item pool includes contents from Blackjack’s reserves, meaning essentially all cosmetic content from previous operations.
What is the problem with the loot boxes? Many players see the boxes as further proof of Activision’s greed. In the eyes of many, the publisher is trying to squeeze money out of fans – everywhere possible.
After all, Black Ops 4 is a full-price title for nearly 60€. Moreover, many players have purchased the Black Ops Pass, which is a season pass, for about 50€. In such a model, microtransactions should not exist, according to many fans.
Therefore, the already existing microtransaction opportunities in the form of the black market (essentially a battle pass) with direct purchases of ranks and cosmetic packages are regularly in the spotlight of criticism.
But now, with the loot boxes, a new type of microtransactions is being added. For many, Black Ops 4 has finally crossed the line.
How are fans reacting? Fans are venting their anger on Reddit and social media.
The discussion platform is full of posts on this topic. This move is considered to be brazen, according to the prevailing sentiment. There are frequent calls to not support this business practice and to refrain from purchasing boxes.
Additionally, the implementation of the loot boxes is criticized. It is complained that players are not informed about the chances of obtaining certain items and that there is no protection against duplicates. Other games handle this better.
Some players also note that the loot from paid loot boxes seems significantly better and more valuable than from crates earned through gameplay, for which players would need between one and a half to three hours, depending on their playstyle.
Moreover, fans fear that the contents of the loot boxes might not only remain cosmetic. For example, the predecessor Black Ops 3 included some powerful weapons in supply crates that could be purchased with real money.
Even in Black Ops 4, there are already reports from players stating that weapons like the SWAT RFT assault rifle are available from the new boxes. Although this is content from the last season, the weapon is not cosmetic.
Many can therefore imagine that this could just be the first step towards further microtransactions that might also include new powerful weapons. While some fans previously defended the earlier models and dismissed them as typical, there is currently hardly anyone who understands the introduction of loot boxes.
What do you think about the return of loot boxes? Can you not understand the frustration over these optional contents? Or has Activision crossed the line for you as well?
