Incoming Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 microtransactions allow for personal customization

Well, it was only a matter of time, I suppose. Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 will soon offer in-game purchases for what Activision is calling Micro Items. These microtransactions, in short, will consist as "either personal customizations or nice little luxuries," according to Activision's Dan Amrich.

With a game as competitive as Black Ops 2, Amrich was sure to point out that none of these Micro Items will "affect gameplay." They are simply "small, specific ways to enhance your online experience."

Personalization Packs will cost 160 Microsoft Points each and will offer unique weapon camos, three targeting reticules, and a Calling Card. According to MCV, there's also an Extra Slots Pack, which offers ten additional Create-a-Class slots and an increase to the game's media storage space. Also available in the in-game store will be Flags of the World Calling Card Packs for 80 MSP each. Rounding out the list of offerings will be the Nuketown 2025 Zombie Map, previously included when you order the Black Ops 2 Season Pass or purchase the Collector's Edition. This map will now be available as a standalone purchase for 400 MSP.

“At the end of the day, all of these items are completely optional, and were created for players who’ve asked for more customization options,” Amrich clarified. “If that’s not you, that’s fine." As a sort of bonus, Amrich confirmed that "everybody gets Nuketown 2025 for free, so definitely take advantage of that.”

The new vanity Micro Items will be made available first on Xbox 360 later this week. The content will be released on PS3 and PC at a later, currently unannounced date.

This new addition hardly comes as a surprise. It seems more and more publishers are turning to in-game purchases as an additional stream of revenue. EA already added a similar feature in Dead Space 3, which allows players to purchase weapon crafting materials for real cash. Unlike Black Ops 2, the system in Dead Space 3 has more of a pay-to-win type feel because it provides more of an aid for players who want a quicker alternative to gathering resources necessary for crafting weapons.

Regardless of how you feel about in-game microtransactions on your console games, it doesn't seem like they'll be going anywhere anytime soon — so get used to it. Don't like it? Well, you can blame mobile games. Although I feel this is nothing more than a money-grab from Activision, I don't necessarily have a problem with it as long as it's purely cosmetic. If people want to spend money on fancy weapon camos, have at it.

How do you feel about the new Micro Items? Is there any harm in optional vanity items being sold via in-game microtransactions?