Call of Duty dips into 'pay-to-win' with $12 bundle that gives you actual gameplay advantages
Call of Duty is treading where few live service games dare go. As part of this week's launch of Warzone 2 and Modern Warfare 2 Season 3, a new cosmetic bundle that also grants significant gameplay advantages in DMZ mode has appeared, and more are coming. Players are declaring this a move toward Warzone 2 becoming «pay-to-win.»
The first bundle to include what Activision's calling a «DMZ boost» is the $12 EOD Specialist bundle for Fender. At a glance the bundle is just a forgettable operator skin with a «pro-tuned» LMG blueprint, but equip them in Warzone's extraction mode, DMZ, and they become a lot more valuable—players with the EOD operator skin are automatically given a free medium backpack, and the LMG comes with a special 15-minute insured cooldown after dying (much shorter than a free gun's 2-hour penalty).
What does this mean in practice? While a normal operator typically starts a DMZ match with naked contraband guns and little storage space, players sporting this $12 bundle get an automatic headstart on looting with an optimized LMG. In that sense, this is more of a «pay-for-boost» than «pay-to-win,» but some players are rebuking DMZ boosts on principle.
«This is wrong & completely tone deaf,» tweeted(opens in new tab) YouTuber Westie.
«Get ready for even more mobile gaming monetization tactics,» wrote Reddit user ElMalViajado(opens in new tab).
It's easy to see how minor paid advantages can turn into bigger ones, especially because some supposed store leaks suggest(opens in new tab) future bundles will include a free self-revive kit and a medium armor vest, two key upgrades that could help you win a firefight.
Interestingly, fans of one particular extraction shooter that Warzone 2 takes inspiration from will
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