Activision is conducting an experiment. It’s offering PC players a chance to get in on Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 ‘s ranked multiplayer for $15 with a Multiplayer Starter Pack. Basically, you’re being asked to pay money for a multiplayer engine, but the engine you’re getting is stripped bare.
At the outset, it seems smart. You get to play online against other Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 owners. You can visit the Arena, Black Market, Gunsmith, and Weapon Paint Shop to do things like make sure your gear is up-to-date and awesome. You’re able to get in on all the public, ranked multiplayer matches.
Except, then you realize that’s all you can do. There are worlds of Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 multiplayer experiences locked away from you, ones that should have been included in a multiplayer engine when you’re paying $15 for it. You’re capped at level 55. Custom matches are squirrelled away.
Worse, your enjoyment of the Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 Multiplayer Starter Pack will even be more limited in the future. Even though you paid $15, you aren’t getting access to mod support, when it’s added to the game. You won’t be able to make use of the unranked server browser, once it comes. You’re always locked into that one version of multiplayer, unable to advance past level 55 and Prestige, to use a Fresh Start to start again, or shake things up with custom content.
I mean, of course Activision couldn’t give away the entire game in this pack. It makes sense to lock out the Campaign and Zombies mode. It is a sampler. But if something says it’s a Multiplayer Starter Pack, you should get access to all aspects of multiplayer for $14.99. Otherwise, you’re better off grabbing the full Counter-Strike: Global Offensive for the same price, as at least there you’re getting absolutely everything in that shooter for your money.
This Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 Multiplayer Starter Pack is a learning experience all around. People will try it and realize they could do a lot better with $15 when it comes to searching for a multiplayer shooter experience. Activision will hopefully learn it needs to offer more for that kind of money. And maybe it’ll mean something better the next time it tries to sell the multiplayer separate from the full game.