🔗 Share this article

Some Fortnite enthusiasts are feeling let down, and this isn't because of recent virtual happenings. Fortnite's current mini-season, that brings a Springfield map, has also unveiled a brand-new feature known as pets. It's impossible to deny that these latest pets are adorable. However, the attached prices have left many fans shocked at the developer's efforts to profit from almost every part of the gaming experience.

Understanding Sidekicks?

Sidekicks are basically like Pokémon, though with some limitations. Players can name them, and these pets will follow you during a game. They are immortal, and players can interact with them. Other gamers not in the player's party are unable to see sidekicks — and displaying one's companions is arguably half the fun of having them. Sidekicks are able to be customized with costumes and emotes, however the debate centers on their looks. Each sidekick's overall design is only able to be changed one time, after which that selection is permanent. You can select a sidekick's coat color, secondary colors, iris tones, pattern, and their build size.

The Expensive Personalization System

If a player later choose that you want your pet to appear a bit altered, it's not possible to just continue to modify the appearance. Players must purchase another sidekick. Furthermore, sidekicks are not inexpensive. The majority of people are obtaining the Peels pet, because it is included with the current battle pass. According to leaks, future sidekicks may cost anywhere between 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 rename a sidekick as many times as you'd like.

Player Reaction and Comparisons

The majority of pets have not been officially released so far, so the pricing could well change. Yet regardless of whether the company sets companions cheaper, a lot of the frustration comes from the fact that gamers might have to spend for a one kind of pet multiple times. For some, the pricing scheme feels especially unfair considering the developer has already introduced pets that are carried around as part of back blings. Back bling pets do not have a restriction on changes and are visible by fellow players in the match. Backpack buddies cannot be named or use emotes, but opposing gamers are able to occasionally engage with them — and this is more favorable than remaining unseen altogether.

The absence of special functions and limited interaction choices have numerous players experiencing disappointed. Why can't a player, such as, interact playfully with your stylish fruit-themed pet? Some note that companions sometimes fail to keep up with the user if a match is fast-paced, or mention that the banana pet takes up two slots in the battle pass — which reinforces the notion that the company is pressuring the community for money. Greedy is a word that's coming up frequently in these conversations, with some likening sidekick monetization to other intense monetization models in games like EA Sports FC. It also doesn't help that some sidekicks are expected to be more expensive than equivalent character skin counterparts.

"PLEASE avoid buy Companion Pets," pleads one highly-voted community post that encourages other gamers to figuratively express disapproval by not spending.

"I know they're adorable," the post adds, "we realize they are enjoyable. We are aware everyone has been looking forward to them. However the monetization focus on display is unacceptable and must not be supported."

A Bigger Picture of Virtual Spending

In recent years, the game's special occasions and collaborations have grown in scale and aspiration, but the free-to-play game continues to must generate revenue. As such, the total number of items players are able to now buy has grown nearly excessive. Beyond basics like back accessories, deployment tools, harvesting tools, and gestures, you could possibly spend cash on shoes, music tracks, instruments, building blocks, cars, tires, custom paint jobs, battle passes, and a subscription. Companion pets do not just require money, but also introduce a range of fresh revenue options for the developer. Presumably, users will before long be able to pay for items like sidekick looks, costumes, emotes, and further interaction options.

All of such customization items are completely voluntary and unneeded to enjoy the game, yet gear can nonetheless influence your social interactions. Kids, for instance, at times face bullying for using flashy enough outfits. A comparable situation previously occurred when the developer introduced licensed shoes, which can range from 600 to 1,000 V-Bucks. The footwear cost model wasn't popular either, and some players vowed that they wouldn't succumb to the temptation at the time. However ultimately, buying shoes became commonplace. Today, sidekicks are further testing the limits of what a player might be prepared to pay to be distinctive amongst the player base.

What's Next for Sidekicks?

Pets are still a fairly recent feature, and they're part of a game that updates regularly. A few players are reporting that they've received a survey that assesses how the community feel about sidekick mechanics and pricing, which could potentially mean that the developer's plans are remain fluid. But if the game footwear are any indication, sidekicks probably will not get more affordable overall — instead, there may be a wider selection of prices to shop.

After all, where certain individuals are expressing anger at Fortnite shop prices, different players are experiencing nothing but happiness for their new battle royale pals.