CoD fans slam ‘pay-to-win’ blueprint with OP thermal optic
Call of Duty players have slammed the new Dark Rituals III bundle for being 'pay to win,' as it includes a blueprint with an enhanced holo-thermal optic.
07th Aug 2023 13:05
Images via Activision
CoD fans slam ‘pay-to-win’ blueprint with OP thermal optic
Call of Duty players have slammed the new Dark Rituals III bundle for being 'pay to win,' as it includes a blueprint with an enhanced holo-thermal optic.
07th Aug 2023 13:05
Images via Activision
Blueprints in Moder Warfare 2 & Warzone 2 give players the chance to instantly gain access to fully-kitted out weapons, often with a unique appearance or effects.
While beginning as strictly cosmetic, the devs have been pushing the boundaries of "pay-to-win" in recent years, releasing blueprints with extra bonuses for DMZ and cleaner optics that make it easier to lock onto a foe.
Well, the Dark Rituals III bundle released with Season 5 and has taken it to a new level. It's a blueprint that comes equipped with the "thermal target identification" scope.
This enhanced optic is significantly better than a typical thermal sight, highlighting an opponent's body completely in red, instead of just the typical yellow outline that's easy to miss.
Dark Rituals III blueprint has "pay to win" optic in MW2
As showcased by the popular Call of Duty Twitter account CharlieINTEL, the Dark Rituals III bundle features a blueprint with an enhanced thermal scope. This optic can only be unlocked by purchasing this specific bundle in the store with CoD points.
This news quickly sparked a response from fans, slamming the "pay-to-win" bundle as an "ugly cash grab" that ruins the competitive integrity of the game.
"Make it OP, sell a BUNCH in the store then nerf it after a few patches, EASY money-making business," said one frustrated player, with another even arguing, "This needs to be rejected by players immediately or P2W elements will get much worse moving forth."
While Activision receives backlash every time one of these "PTW" cosmetics arrives in-game, it's obvious it has no intention of stopping extra bonuses from being locked behind store items.
How OP is the Dark Rituals III thermal optic in MW2 & WZ2?
Here’s some Hardcore game footage. I used the new Seasonal AR here which you all know by now is gutless at long range.
— dolemitedawiz (@NoFilterGames) August 6, 2023
The entire enemy is highlighted…PLUS
- Lasers are shown in thick bold up close.
- When an enemy is about to shoot there’s an indicator over their head. pic.twitter.com/V4G4FC0o09
So, how overpowered is the Dark Rituals III thermal scope in-game? Well, thanks to dolemitedawiz, we've been given an example of how strong the optic can be, especially when used through smoke.
As showcased above, it's unbelievably easy to spot enemies as the scope covers them head-to-toe in red. A normal thermal sight only displays a yellow outline, which can be extremely difficult to spot from afar.
While thermal scopes are still a fairly niche attachment, it's clear having any advantages tied behind a paywall is a massive red flag for the CoD community. However, based on recent store releases, Activision won't be halting "pay-to-win" bundles if the items continue to bring in revenue.
About The Author
Alex Garton
Alex is a Senior Writer at GGRecon. With a BA (Hons) in English, he has previously written for Dexerto & Gfinity. Specialising in Call of Duty & Apex Legends, he loves (attempting) to improve his aim in competitive shooters and will always make time for a single-player RPG.
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