Black Ops 6 brings back “pay-to-win” Gobblegums & players are worried

As a seasoned gamer with over two decades of gaming under my belt, I must admit that I’ve seen it all – good, bad, and downright frustrating. The return of Gobblegums in Black Ops 6 Zombies has me feeling a mix of excitement and dismay. On one hand, I’m thrilled to see the return of these unique Perks that can significantly impact gameplay. On the other, the news that they’ll be available through pay-to-win mechanics once again is a bitter pill to swallow.


In Black Ops 6’s Zombies mode, the much-anticipated Gobblegums make a comeback, yet fans found it disheartening to discover that they can still be obtained using “premium purchase” tactics, often perceived as an unfair advantage in gameplay.

In Black Ops 6, we’re seeing a comeback of the classic Zombies format, featuring two substantial maps – Terminus and Liberty Falls, ready for gameplay right from the start. To keep things reminiscent of the old days, Treyarch is reintroducing several beloved features that were a part of the mode in earlier versions.

These encompass Gobblegums, unique candies functioning as in-game benefits that can be utilized just once. They debuted in BO3, and although players appreciated their potential impact during gameplay, the aspect that they could solely be acquired with real currency sparked a significant amount of negative feedback.

Initially, it seemed that Gobblegums could only be obtained by enduring rounds in the game, eliminating any potential pay-to-win issues. But in a blog post prior to launch, the developers clarified that they can also be unlocked either by playing Zombies and surviving rounds or through an in-store purchase.

Despite functioning in a manner similar to how they did in BO3, reinstating the paid system has sparked significant criticism. Upon sharing this news on our sister site CharlieIntel, the comments section was filled with gamers expressing their disapproval towards Activision.

Newsflash: Activision verifies – GobbleGums can be bought from the in-game store in Black Ops 6, in addition to earning them through Zombies gameplay and surviving rounds.

— CharlieIntel (@charlieINTEL) October 17, 2024

One disgruntled player playfully remarked, ‘I can hardly contain my excitement for the moment when I’ll need to purchase a $20 skin pack featuring Woods in a camouflage suit made of weeds with a galaxy-colored AK, all so I can get the Perkaholic.’

“Game’s not even out and it’s already pay to win,” added another.

In a similar scenario, when ModernWarzone, a popular Call of Duty streamer, spoke about the topic, there were several concerns expressed as people feared that acquiring top-tier Gobblegums could be challenging, potentially nudging players towards the in-game shop.

One commenter responded, “That doesn’t seem right. The phrase ‘Earn by playing’ sounds simple enough, but what specific tasks or challenges are we talking about here? Moreover, how difficult will these earnings be to achieve and how scarcely will the most valuable gobblegums appear?

It’s important to note that gums will be distributed at irregular intervals throughout the game, but each one has a unique rarity. As for the rare gums like Near Death Experience and Perkoholic, classified as “Ultra” gums, it’s still unknown exactly how frequently they will appear without spending money.

Additionally, it’s uncertain whether players can purchase particular Gobblegums from the shop, or if they will still be randomly assigned as in the past.

On October 25th, all doubts about Black Ops 6 will be resolved when it’s released globally. If you can’t wait that long, here’s a method, known as the “New Zealand trick,” to get early access to the game.

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2024-10-18 15:49