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A number of battle royale players are feeling disappointed, and this isn't because of the latest in-game events. The game's newest limited-time event, which introduces a Simpsons-themed map, has also rolled out a brand-new feature called sidekicks. There's no deny that these latest companions are adorable. However, the associated prices have made many players shocked at the company's efforts to profit from nearly every part of the gaming experience.

What Are Companion Pets?

Sidekicks are essentially similar to Pokémon, though having some drawbacks. You can give them a name, and they will accompany your character during a match. They are indestructible, and you can pet them. Opposing players outside your squad are unable to view sidekicks — and showing off your companions is arguably half the fun of owning them. Sidekicks are able to be customized with outfits and gestures, but the debate revolves around their appearance. Each sidekick's main appearance can only be altered once, at which point that selection is final. You can choose a companion's coat color, secondary colors, eye colors, markings, and their build size.

A Expensive Personalization System

Should you afterward decide that you want their sidekick to look a bit different, it's not possible to simply further customize the look. You have to buy another companion. Furthermore, these pets aren't inexpensive. Most people are obtaining the banana-themed pet, since it is packaged with the current reward track. According to unofficial reports, future pets may be priced at 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. However, players can rename a companion whenever they want.

Community Response and Parallels

Most pets haven't been formally launched yet, so the pricing could easily change. But regardless of whether the company sets sidekicks cheaper, a lot of the frustration comes from the reality that gamers might need to spend for a one kind of pet more than once. For some, the pricing scheme feels especially egregious considering the game has previously introduced companions that ride around inside backpack accessories. Back bling pets lack a customization limitation and are visible by fellow players in the match. Backpack pets can't be named or use gestures, but other gamers are able to sometimes engage with them — and this is better than being invisible completely.

The absence of unique features and limited interaction options have many players experiencing disappointed. Why can't you, such as, play fetch with your fancy banana dog? Some point out that companions sometimes fail to keep up with the player if a match is fast-paced, or mention that the banana pet occupies two slots in the reward system — and this reinforces the idea that the developer is pressuring the community for money. Profit-driven is a word that's appearing frequently in such discussions, with some comparing pet monetization to similar intense pricing schemes in games like EA Sports FC. It also adds to the issue that some pets are projected to be pricier than equivalent outfit counterparts.

"PLEASE do not purchasing Sidekicks," urges a popular online thread that encourages other gamers to proverbially vote with their wallets.

"We understand these pets are cute," the thread continues, "we realize they're enjoyable. We are aware we have all been looking forward to them. However the greed being shown is unacceptable and must not be rewarded."

A Bigger Picture of In-Game Spending

In recent years, Fortnite's events and collaborations have expanded in scale and ambition, but the free-to-play title still needs to earn revenue. Therefore, the total quantity of cosmetics users can now buy has become almost overwhelming. In addition to basics like back accessories, deployment tools, pickaxes, and gestures, players might possibly spend cash on shoes, music tracks, instruments, Lego pieces, cars, wheels, custom paint jobs, seasonal rewards, and a membership. Sidekicks not only cost money, but also introduce a range of fresh monetization options for the developer. It is likely, users will before long be in a position to pay for items like pet appearances, costumes, emotes, and additional interaction options.

All of these customization items are completely voluntary and unneeded to enjoy the game, but equipment can still affect your community experience. Younger players, for instance, at times face teasing for not wearing impressive enough outfits. A similar situation previously transpired when the company introduced brand-name shoes, which may be priced from 600 to 1,000 V-Bucks. The footwear cost model wasn't well received either, and some fans vowed that they'd avoid succumb to the pressure back then. But in the end, buying footwear grew normalized. Now, companion pets are further testing the boundaries of what a player might be prepared to spend to stand out within the player base.

What is Ahead for Companion Pets?

Sidekicks are still a fairly new feature, and they're part of a title that updates regularly. A few fans are reporting that they've received a survey that assesses how people think about sidekick functionality and pricing, and this might possibly indicate that the company's strategy are still subject to change. But if the game footwear are a sign, companions probably won't become cheaper in general — there will just be a broader range of costs to choose from.

After all, while certain players are expressing anger at the game item costs, others are experiencing only joy for their new battle royale friends.