Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 recently 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 blaming Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 for 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 time Call of Duty cosmetics have been labeled pay-to-win. The all-black Roze “Rook” skin for Warzone was heavily criticized by the Call of Duty community, 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 that Warzone was letting 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 against Call of Duty for 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 to purchase every Black Ops 6 store bundle should prepare to spend over $1,400.

Call of Duty Players See New Cardboard Box Emote as Pay to Win

The Call of Duty community was quick to respond to this new pay-to-win element in Black Ops 6 and Warzone. 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.

With Season 3 Reloaded for Black Ops 6 and Warzone slated to drop around May 1, 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.