🔗 Share this article

Some battle royale enthusiasts are experiencing disappointed, and this isn't because of the latest in-game happenings. Fortnite's current mini-season, which introduces a Springfield world, also unveiled a brand-new mechanic called pets. It's impossible to deny that the new pets are adorable. But, the associated costs have left numerous players stunned at this company's attempts to monetize nearly each aspect of the gaming experience.

Understanding Sidekicks?

Sidekicks are basically like Pokémon, but having some drawbacks. Players can name them, and they will follow you throughout a game. They are immortal, and you can interact with them. Opposing players outside the player's party are unable to see sidekicks — and showing off one's animal friends is arguably half the enjoyment of having them. Sidekicks can be outfitted with costumes and emotes, however the controversy centers on their appearance. A sidekick's main design is only able to be changed one time, after which that choice becomes permanent. Players can select a sidekick's coat color, secondary colors, iris tones, markings, and their body type.

A Expensive Customization System

Should you later choose that you want their pet to look a bit altered, it's not possible to simply continue to modify the appearance. Players must buy another companion. And, sidekicks aren't cheap. Most people are getting the banana-themed sidekick, since it's included with this season's reward track. According to unofficial reports, upcoming sidekicks may cost from 1,000 to 1,500 V-Bucks; to put that in perspective, 1,000 V-Bucks costs $8.99 and 2,800 V-Bucks cost $22.99. You can change the name of a sidekick as many times as you'd like.

Community Response and Comparisons

The majority of pets haven't been officially released yet, so the pricing could well change. Yet regardless of whether the developer sets companions cheaper, much of the frustration stems from the reality that players might need to spend for a single type of sidekick multiple times. To certain players, the cost structure seems particularly unfair considering the game has already added pets that ride around inside backpack accessories. Back bling companions do not have a restriction on changes and can be seen by other players in the game. Back bling buddies cannot be given a name or use emotes, but opposing players are able to occasionally engage with them — which is better than being unseen completely.

Lack of special features and restricted interaction choices have numerous players experiencing disappointed. Why can't a player, for example, play fetch with your fancy banana dog? A few note that sidekicks do not always keep up with the user if a game is moving quickly, or mention that the banana pet occupies two spots in the reward system — which supports the idea that the developer is pressuring the community for revenue. Greedy is a word that's appearing often in such conversations, with a number of likening pet pricing to similar aggressive pricing schemes in titles like popular sports games. It also adds to the issue that some sidekicks are expected to be more expensive than their outfit versions.

"PLEASE avoid buy Companion Pets," urges a highly-voted online thread that encourages fellow gamers to proverbially vote with their wallets.

"I know these pets are cute," the thread continues, "we realize they are fun. I know everyone has been anticipating them. But the greed being shown is disgusting and should not be rewarded."

The Bigger Context of Virtual Purchases

Over the past few years, Fortnite's events and collaborations have expanded in scope and aspiration, yet the free-to-play title still must generate revenue. As such, the total number of cosmetics users can currently purchase has grown almost overwhelming. Beyond basics like back accessories, deployment tools, pickaxes, and gestures, you could potentially spend money on footwear, songs, musical tools, Lego pieces, cars, wheels, custom paint jobs, battle passes, and a membership. Sidekicks not only cost money, and also introduce a host of new monetization options for the company. It is likely, users will before long be in a position to pay for things like sidekick appearances, costumes, gestures, and further engagement options.

Every one of these customization items are completely voluntary and unneeded to enjoy the game, yet gear can nonetheless affect a player's social interactions. Younger players, for example, sometimes encounter bullying for not wearing impressive sufficiently cool skins. A comparable issue previously transpired when the developer launched brand-name shoes, which may be priced from 600 to 1,000 V-Bucks. The shoe pricing scheme wasn't well received either, and a few fans promised that they'd avoid succumb to the pressure back then. However in the end, buying shoes became commonplace. Now, companion pets are additionally pushing the boundaries of what a player could be willing to pay to be distinctive within the crowd.

What's Ahead for Sidekicks?

Sidekicks are still a fairly new addition, and they're part of a game that updates frequently. Some players are sharing that they've received a survey that gauges how the community think about pet mechanics and pricing, and this might potentially mean that the company's plans are still fluid. But if the game shoes are a sign, sidekicks likely won't become more affordable overall — instead, there may be a broader range of prices to shop.

Ultimately, while some players are raging at the game item costs, others are experiencing only joy for their competitive friends.