Warzone optic some claim is "pay-to-win" divides player opinion

The topic of pay-to-win items in Warzone continues to divide players dropping into Call of Duty's battle royale. Despite the game being free to play, there are some items in it that players think are players think are capable of giving those willing to splash the cash an unfair advantage.

Following the launch of Season 5, some some players hhave be beenen calling on Raven Software to nerf a launcher that they think is dominating matches, while others have encountered a bug that seemingly breaks a coveted mastery camouflage.

The latest issue catching the attention of players involves the recent release of a new store bundle. Some are claiming that a weapon optic included in the bundle is an example of pay-to-win mechanics in Warzone.

Another apparent potential Warzone pay-to-win weapon optic

To raise awareness of the apparent issue, user coone90 took to Reddit with a clip from content creator LegoUnlocked's recent video. The video shows a thermal optic that some players think makes it easier than it should be to locate opponents.

The optic in question comes as part of the Dark Rituals III bundle, which features a blueprint for the Cronen Squall battle rifle, one of the best Warzone guns to use in Season 5.

As expected, there are many unhappy players frustrated by the potential emergence of another way to gain an advantage by splashing the cash. One player in the thread said: "Each season they add more pay-to-win stuff here and there. Doesn't surprise me."

• Read more: When is the next Warzone 2 double XP event?

On the other hand, there are some players that aren't concerned by the discovery. One argued: "Everyone seemed to be hyping up the holotherm, but as a thermal scope, it kind of sucks and barely shows enemies."

This isn't the first instance of apparent pay-to-win items appearing in Warzone. During Season 4, one player uncovered a highly effective weapon reticle locked behind a paywall, much to the annoyance of many players.

While the appearance of another item players are frustrated by is far from ideal, it's unclear if the Dark Rituals III bundle will actually impact the meta, as players continue to search for new ways to gain the upper hand over their opponents. We'll have to wait and see if the game's developers decide to intervene.

In the meantime, take a look at our Modern Warfare 3 page for all the latest news and guides on 2023's Call of Duty release.