Black Ops 6 Offers Early Access to New Event Weapon for a Fee

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is stirring up some chatter with its latest store bundle which lets players snag the new Sirin 9mm submachine gun ahead of schedule. Initially, this weapon was set to be the crowning reward in the Hit List event—a community-driven affair where players combine efforts to reach a staggering 50 billion eliminations to unlock premium rewards. However, fans aren’t thrilled with Treyarch’s surprise move, where they’ve provided an option to sidestep the challenge by forking over some cash instead.

The Hit List event kicked off on November 21 for both Black Ops 6 and Warzone, offering a plethora of rewards for personal and community milestones. Gamers have until December 5 to accumulate a vast number of eliminations, aiming for the ultimate prize—the Sirin 9mm SMG. The road to 50 billion eliminations is a tough one, with goodies like perks and scorestreaks sprinkled along the way. Despite the community not being close to reaching this goal, Treyarch has included the Sirin 9mm in a new bundle, stirring the pot a bit.

The option to unlock the Sirin 9mm SMG isn’t just for players with patience. With the November 26 release of the Cash Bandit bundle, players can secure this weapon, along with some cosmetic items, by purchasing a weapon blueprint for it, sidestepping the event’s completion requirements. The bundle is priced at 2,800 COD points, an enticing shortcut for those not willing to wait for the community to hit that towering milestone.

As you might expect, the reaction from the Black Ops 6 community is less than enthusiastic. Popular YouTuber JGOD expressed his disappointment, noting the sadness of locking a weapon behind a paywall before the event concludes. Meanwhile, another player, Nick, criticized the business tactic of setting exceptionally high targets only to offer a pay-to-win workaround. Many players share the sentiment that such a move shouldn’t have been introduced.

This isn’t the first time Treyarch’s microtransaction tactics have come under fire. Just recently, they launched the Replacer bundle, which included a beloved character from Black Ops’ promo videos. However, fans soon discovered that a special variant, tied to the Blackcell Battle Pass, would hike up the bundle’s total cost, adding to the criticism.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, crafted by Treyarch and Raven, is a gripping spy thriller set against the backdrop of the early ’90s. It’s a time marked by political shifts and the conclusion of the Cold War. The game delivers a thrilling narrative that defies convention and provides a mix of vibrant gameplay environments, with a major focus on thrilling heists and covert operations. Boasting an impressive multiplayer scene, it offers 16 new maps at launch, including both 6v6 core and strategic 2v2 or 6v6 Strike maps. The return of Round-Based Zombies mode is also a highlight, delivering action-packed encounters with the undead on two fresh maps. With post-launch plans for new multiplayer and zombie experiences, Black Ops 6 promises to keep players engaged.