Activision has introduced a new cosmetic bundle to the MW3 store that has sparked a wave of criticism. The Killer Operator bundle offers double XP and double weapon XP, which players can earn when playing in parties of at least two players while wearing the operator skin. This bonus extends to a double battle pass XP bonus in parties of three or more users.
Prior to this, double XP could only be acquired during promotional weekends or through time-limited tokens. Activision’s move to place the XP boost behind a paywall, which costs 1600 CoD points (equivalent to $10), has been met with widespread disapproval from players.
Many have compared this bundle to the controversial DMZ bonus bundles released in 2023. These bundles granted players in-game advantages, such as self-revive kits and larger backpacks, when they equipped a specific skin. The concern among players is that this new XP bundle could be a harbinger of future pay-to-win elements in the game.
While the Killer Operator bundle does not provide an unfair advantage in terms of gameplay, it represents a shortcut that not all players will have access to. The addition of this bundle raises questions about the direction of monetization practices in MW3 and the potential for further pay-to-win elements in the future.
