Summary
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6recently introduced a premium “Surprise Gift” emote that allows players to hide in a cardboard box before jumping out and shocking unsuspecting foes, giving those who own this paid emote a competitive edge over their opponents. This has led to players blamingCall of Duty: Black Ops 6for introducing pay-to-win elements, underscoring the tough balance between offering new premium cosmetics and preserving a level playing field for those who don’t purchase them.
This isn’t the first timeCall of Dutycosmetics have been labeled pay-to-win. Theall-black Roze “Rook” skin forWarzonewas heavily criticizedby theCall of Dutycommunity, as it allowed players to blend into the shadows and become almost invisible. Developer Razen Software then tweaked the skin to make it more visible, ending claims thatWarzone wasletting those who purchased skins get an edge on their enemies. The T-800 Terminator skin was also changed to increase its visibility, as its flat model made it harder to see compared to other operators.
The most recent accusation againstCall of Dutyfor adopting a pay-to-win model came from the release of a premium emote. The contested “Surprise Gift” emote is part of the 2,400 COD Points Cardboard Commando bundle, which turns both soldier and weapons into cardboard. While this gives operators a different look, it also provides an unexpected edge in battle: the emote hides players in a cardboard box, making them nearly invisible in certain environments. With this premium emote, paying players are able to hide and kill their enemies, giving them a distinct advantage over those who didn’t purchase the Cardboard Commando bundle. This premium bundle costs $25, and players who want topurchase everyBlack Ops 6store bundleshould prepare to spend over $1,400.
Call of Duty Players See New Cardboard Box Emote as Pay to Win
TheCall of Dutycommunity was quick to respond to thisnew pay-to-win element inBlack Ops 6andWarzone. Players found rooms filled with cardboard boxes to hide with the emote, sharing clips on social media showing their opponents running around without seeing them. Players are now asking Treyarch and Raven Software to fix the emote, so that paying players can enjoy their emote without punishing non-paying users.
WithSeason 3 Reloaded forBlack Ops 6andWarzoneslated to drop around June 29, 2025, the community is watching to see if Treyarch and Raven Software will prevent pay-to-win cosmetics from disrupting the balance of the game. The new season is set to bring new maps, weapons, and limited-time events, and players hope to enjoy this fresh content without an unbalanced playing field due to paying elements.
