Call of Duty is Experimenting with 'Pay-to-Win' Mechanics.
A couple of recent paid-bundles that provide operators like Roze or Ghost with boosts in DMZ have surfaced.
What is DMZ?
DMZ is the newest game mode in Modern Warfare 2. Instead of eliminating players and surviving to the end like in Battle Royale, DMZ focuses on objective based co-op gameplay. In it, you have to complete a series of missions, or objectives, and exfiltrate yourself from the map.
You will mostly encounter AI enemies scattered through the map or in fortresses; however, there are other players completing objectives, and competing with you as well. Once you complete your objectives, you must extract yourself from Al-Mazrah.
Testing the waters
Activision has been recently experimenting with bundles that provide operators boosts in DMZ. For instance, Ghost has the 'Classic Ghost' bundle that gives him a 2-plate armor vest every time you start on DMZ; if you have the slot empty.
Most recently, Roze got a new bundle that gives her a free UAV from the get-go. Having it can definitely give you an early advantage in DMZ. The bundle 'Roze and Thorn' costs 1800 COD Points.
You can only buy COD points in the following increments:
If you have been keen on completing Battle Pass from previous seasons, there is a good chance that you have a few COD Points to spare, however if you get into the habit of spending them here and there, you will quickly run out.
The other significant bundle with a DMZ boost is 'Dark Rituals II'. It comes with a much-needed Self-Revive Kit. Those are hard to find and they cost $7500. You can make money by collecting items and selling them to a nearby store, or simply grabbing cash laying around or in cash registers.
It looks like Activision is testing the waters on a co-op-based game mode that does not rely heavily on PvP combat; the mix of AI and scattered players is the perfect scenario to experiment with new mechanics.
Braced for backlash
Activision is braced for any kind of backlash this generates. Perhaps the next step is to make these boosted bundles available for Battle Royale, since it's a free-to-play mode. It will certainly give an advantage to those who have them.
Imagine starting the game with a couple of Self-Revive Kits, or have the ability to use it again after making it out of the 'Gulag'.
It seems inevitable that COD will start implementing 'boosted' Operator Bundles into their core multiplayer modes like Team Deathmatch, Domination, et all. Depending on the amount of backlash, we may see these boosted bundles limited to secondary game modes like DMZ or Raid.
Another thing to point out is that these bundles can be purchased with COD Points; there are other exclusive bundles in the store that are only purchasable with 'real money', like the
Manticore Pro Pack 3, or Urban Veteran.
You might want to check these bundles before buying COD Points since they already include the exact amount you pay for. For instance, 2400 COD Points costs $19.99; the Manticore bundle costs the same ($19.99) and it includes 2400 COD Points.
What are your thoughts on these bundles? Would you pay for one? Let me know in the comments below.
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