🔗 Share this article

Some Fortnite players are experiencing disappointed, and it's not because of the latest in-game happenings. The game's newest limited-time event, that brings a Simpsons-themed map, also unveiled a fresh feature called sidekicks. There's no ignore that the latest pets are cute. But, the attached prices have left numerous players shocked at this company's attempts to monetize nearly every part of the gaming experience.

What Are Companion Pets?

Companions are essentially similar to digital creatures, but with some drawbacks. Players can name them, and they will accompany you during a match. They are immortal, and players can pet them. Other gamers outside the player's party cannot view these pets — and displaying your companions is arguably a big part of the enjoyment of having them. Sidekicks are able to be outfitted with costumes and emotes, however the debate revolves around their looks. A pet's overall appearance is only able to be changed once, after which that selection becomes permanent. You can choose a companion's coat color, secondary colors, eye colors, pattern, and their body type.

A Expensive Customization Mechanism

If a player later choose that you want your pet to look slightly different, it's not possible to just continue to customize the appearance. You have to buy another companion. Furthermore, sidekicks aren't cheap. Most people are obtaining the banana-themed pet, because it's packaged with the current reward track. According to unofficial reports, future pets could be priced at 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. You can rename a sidekick whenever you'd like.

Player Response and Parallels

Most sidekicks haven't been formally released yet, so the pricing may well change. But even if the developer makes companions more affordable, a lot of the frustration comes from the reality that players might need to spend for a single type of sidekick more than once. For some, the cost structure seems particularly egregious considering the developer has previously introduced pets that ride about as part of back blings. Back bling companions lack a customization limitation and are visible by fellow participants in the match. Back bling pets can't be named or perform emotes, however other players are able to sometimes engage with them — which is more favorable than being unseen altogether.

The absence of special features and restricted engagement choices have many gamers feeling underwhelmed. Why can't you, for example, play fetch with their fancy fruit-themed pet? A few point out that companions sometimes fail to stay close with the user if a game is fast-paced, or observe that Peels takes up two slots in the battle pass — and this supports the idea that the company is squeezing the community for revenue. Profit-driven is a word that's coming up frequently in such conversations, with some likening sidekick pricing to similar intense pricing schemes in titles like EA Sports FC. Additionally, it adds to the issue that some sidekicks are projected to be pricier than equivalent character skin counterparts.

"PLEASE do not purchasing Companion Pets," pleads one highly-voted online thread that advises fellow gamers to figuratively express disapproval by not spending.

"I know these pets are cute," the post adds, "I know they are enjoyable. I know we have all been anticipating them. But the monetization focus on display is unacceptable and should not be rewarded."

The Bigger Context of Virtual Purchases

Over the past few years, the game's special occasions and partnerships have expanded in scale and ambition, yet the no-cost-to-start title still must earn revenue. As such, the total quantity of items players can now purchase has become almost overwhelming. In addition to basics like back accessories, deployment tools, pickaxes, and emotes, you could potentially use cash on footwear, songs, instruments, Lego pieces, vehicles, wheels, custom paint jobs, seasonal rewards, and a subscription. Sidekicks do not just require money, and also bring in a host of fresh monetization avenues for the company. It is likely, users will before long be in a position to spend for things like pet appearances, costumes, gestures, and further interaction options.

Every one of these customization items are completely optional and unneeded to enjoy the experience, but equipment can nonetheless affect your social interactions. Kids, for instance, sometimes encounter bullying for not wearing impressive enough outfits. A similar situation previously occurred when the company launched brand-name shoes, which may be priced from 600 to 1,000 V-Bucks. The footwear pricing scheme wasn't well received either, and some players vowed that they wouldn't succumb to the temptation back then. But in the end, buying footwear grew commonplace. Now, sidekicks are further testing the boundaries of what a gamer could be prepared to spend to stand out within the crowd.

What's Next for Sidekicks?

Sidekicks are still a relatively recent addition, and they're part of a title that changes regularly. A few fans are reporting that they have gotten a questionnaire that gauges how people feel about sidekick mechanics and pricing, and this might possibly mean that the company's strategy are still fluid. Yet if Fortnite shoes are a sign, companions probably will not become cheaper in general — instead, there may be a wider selection of costs to choose from.

Ultimately, where certain players are raging at the game item costs, others are feeling only happiness for their new battle royale pals.