🔗 Share this article

Some battle royale players are feeling disappointed, and it's not because of the latest virtual events. The game's current mini-season, that introduces a Springfield world, also rolled out a brand-new feature called pets. There's no deny that the new companions are cute. However, the associated costs have left numerous fans stunned at this company's attempts to monetize nearly each aspect of the game.

What Are Companion Pets?

Sidekicks are basically like Pokémon, though having some drawbacks. Players can give them a name, and they will accompany your character throughout a game. They are immortal, and players can interact with them. Other gamers outside your party are unable to see these pets — and displaying your companions is perhaps half the enjoyment of having them. Pets are able to be customized with outfits and emotes, however the debate centers on their looks. Each sidekick's overall design is only able to be changed once, at which point that selection becomes permanent. You can select a companion's fur shade, accent hues, eye colors, pattern, and its build size.

A Costly Personalization System

If you afterward decide that you want their pet to appear slightly altered, it's not possible to simply continue to customize the look. You have to buy another sidekick. And, sidekicks aren't inexpensive. Most players are obtaining the banana-themed sidekick, because it's packaged with this season's battle pass. According to leaks, upcoming 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 sidekick as many times as you'd like.

Player Reaction and Comparisons

The majority of sidekicks haven't been officially released so far, so the pricing could well change. But even if the company makes companions more affordable, much of the frustration stems from the fact that players could need to spend for a single kind of pet more than once. For some, the pricing scheme seems especially unfair when the game has already introduced companions that ride around as part of backpack accessories. Backpack companions do not have a customization limitation and can be seen by other participants in the game. Back bling buddies can't be given a name or perform emotes, but other gamers are able to occasionally interact with them — and this is more favorable than remaining unseen completely.

Lack of unique features and restricted interaction choices have many players feeling underwhelmed. For instance, why is it not possible to a player, such as, interact playfully with their stylish banana dog? A few point out that sidekicks do not always keep up with the user if a match is fast-paced, or mention that Peels takes up two spots in the battle pass — and this reinforces the idea that the developer is squeezing the community for money. Profit-driven is a word that's coming up often in such conversations, with some likening sidekick monetization to other aggressive pricing schemes in titles like popular sports games. Additionally, it adds to the issue that some pets are expected to be pricier than equivalent outfit versions.

"We urge you to avoid buy Sidekicks," pleads one highly-voted online post that advises fellow players to proverbially vote with their wallets.

"I know they're adorable," the post continues, "we realize they are fun. We are aware we have all been anticipating them. But the monetization focus being shown is unacceptable and should not be supported."

A Bigger Picture of In-Game Purchases

Over the past few years, Fortnite's events and partnerships have expanded in scope and ambition, but the free-to-play game continues to needs to earn income. As such, the sheer number of cosmetics players can currently buy has become almost overwhelming. In addition to basics like back accessories, gliders, harvesting tools, and emotes, players might potentially spend money on shoes, songs, instruments, Lego pieces, cars, wheels, custom paint jobs, seasonal rewards, and a membership. Companion pets not only cost payment, and also introduce a range of fresh monetization options for the developer. Presumably, players will before long be able to spend for items like pet looks, outfits, emotes, and additional interaction options.

All of such customization items are entirely voluntary and unneeded to have fun with the game, yet equipment can still influence a player's social interactions. Younger players, for example, sometimes encounter teasing for not wearing impressive enough outfits. A similar situation previously occurred when the company introduced licensed kicks, which may be priced from 600 to 1,000 V-Bucks. That shoe pricing scheme wasn't popular either, and a few players promised that they wouldn't fall prey to the pressure back then. But in the end, purchasing footwear became commonplace. Now, companion pets are additionally testing the boundaries of what a player might be willing to spend to be distinctive amongst the player base.

What's Next for Sidekicks?

Pets are still a relatively recent feature, and they're part of a title that updates frequently. Some fans are sharing that they have gotten a questionnaire that gauges how the community feel about sidekick mechanics and monetization, which could potentially mean that the developer's plans are still subject to change. Yet if the game footwear are a sign, sidekicks likely won't become cheaper overall — instead, there may be a broader range of prices to choose from.

Ultimately, while some individuals are expressing anger at the game item costs, different players are feeling nothing but joy for their competitive pals.