🔗 Share this article

Some battle royale players are experiencing let down, and this isn't because of recent virtual happenings. Fortnite's current limited-time event, that brings a Simpsons-themed map, has also rolled out a brand-new mechanic known as sidekicks. It's impossible to ignore that the latest companions are cute. However, the attached prices have made many players stunned at this company's attempts to profit from almost every aspect of the gaming experience.

Understanding Companion Pets?

Sidekicks are essentially similar to Pokémon, though with a few drawbacks. Players can name them, and they will follow you during a match. They are immortal, and players can pet them. Opposing players outside your party are unable to see sidekicks — and displaying one's companions is arguably half the enjoyment of having them. Pets can be customized with outfits and emotes, however the debate centers on their looks. A pet's overall design is only able to be altered once, at which point that choice becomes permanent. Players can choose a sidekick's coat color, secondary colors, iris tones, markings, and their build size.

The Expensive Personalization Mechanism

Should you later choose that you want their sidekick to look a bit different, you cannot just further customize the look. You have to buy another companion. And, these pets are not inexpensive. Most players are obtaining the Peels sidekick, since it's packaged in the current reward track. Based on leaks, future sidekicks may cost from 1,000 to 1,500 V-Bucks; for reference, 1,000 V-Bucks is priced at $8.99 and 2,800 V-Bucks are $22.99. However, players can rename a companion whenever they want.

Community Response and Comparisons

The majority of pets have not been officially released yet, meaning the cost could easily be adjusted. Yet even if the company sets companions more affordable, much of the anger stems from the fact that gamers might have to spend for a single kind of sidekick multiple times. To certain players, the pricing scheme seems particularly egregious considering the game has previously added companions that ride around inside back blings. Backpack pets do not have a customization limitation and can be seen by fellow participants in the game. Backpack buddies cannot be given a name or use emotes, but other gamers can sometimes interact with them — and this is more favorable than remaining unseen completely.

Lack of unique functions and limited interaction choices have many players experiencing disappointed. Why can't you, such as, play fetch with their stylish fruit-themed pet? A few note that companions do not always stay close with the player if a game is fast-paced, or mention that the banana pet occupies two spots in the battle pass — which supports the notion that the company is pressuring the community for revenue. Profit-driven is a term that's coming up frequently in such conversations, with some likening pet monetization to other intense pricing schemes in games like popular sports games. It also adds to the issue that certain pets are expected to be pricier than their outfit versions.

"We urge you to do not purchasing Sidekicks," pleads a highly-voted online thread that advises fellow players to proverbially vote with their wallets.

"I know they're adorable," the post continues, "we realize they're enjoyable. We are aware we have all been looking forward to them. But the greed being shown is disgusting and should not be rewarded."

A Broader Picture of In-Game Purchases

Over the past few years, Fortnite's events and partnerships have grown in scale and aspiration, but the free-to-play title still must generate revenue. As such, the total number of cosmetics players can currently buy has grown almost overwhelming. Beyond standard items like back blings, gliders, pickaxes, and emotes, players might possibly spend cash on footwear, music tracks, musical tools, building blocks, vehicles, tires, vehicle drift colors, battle passes, and a membership. Companion pets not only require payment, and also introduce a range of new monetization options for the company. Presumably, players will soon be in a position to pay for things like pet appearances, outfits, emotes, and further engagement options.

All of these cosmetics are completely voluntary and unneeded to have fun with the experience, but gear can still affect your social experience. Younger players, for instance, at times encounter bullying for not wearing impressive sufficiently cool outfits. A similar situation also occurred when the developer introduced brand-name shoes, which can range from 600 to 1,000 V-Bucks. The footwear cost model wasn't popular as well, and some players vowed that they'd avoid fall prey to the temptation at the time. But ultimately, purchasing shoes grew normalized. Now, sidekicks are further testing the limits of how much a player could be prepared to spend to stand out within the crowd.

What's Next for Companion Pets?

Pets are currently a relatively new feature, and they're part of a title that updates regularly. Some players are reporting that they've received a survey that assesses how the community think about sidekick functionality and pricing, and this might potentially mean that the developer's strategy are remain subject to change. Yet if Fortnite shoes are a sign, companions probably won't become more affordable in general — instead, there may be a wider selection of prices to choose from.

After all, while some players are raging at the game shop prices, others are experiencing nothing but happiness for their new battle royale pals.