🔗 Share this article

Some Fortnite players are feeling disappointed, and this isn't due to recent in-game happenings. The game's current mini-season, which brings a Springfield map, has also unveiled a brand-new feature known as sidekicks. There's no ignore that the latest pets are adorable. However, the associated prices have left many fans stunned at this developer's efforts to profit from almost every part of the game.

Understanding Sidekicks?

Companions are essentially similar to Pokémon, though having a few limitations. Players can name them, and these pets will follow you during a game. They are immortal, and players can pet them. Other players not in the player's squad are unable to see these pets — and showing off your companions is arguably a big part of the fun of owning them. Sidekicks are able to be outfitted with costumes and gestures, however the debate revolves around their appearance. Each sidekick's main design is only able to be changed once, at which point that choice becomes permanent. You can choose a sidekick's fur shade, secondary colors, eye colors, markings, and its build size.

The Expensive Customization Mechanism

Should you afterward decide that you want your pet to appear slightly different, you cannot simply further modify its appearance. Players must purchase a new companion. Furthermore, sidekicks aren't cheap. The majority of players are obtaining the banana-themed sidekick, since it is included in the current battle pass. According to unofficial reports, upcoming sidekicks may be priced at from 1,000 to 1,500 V-Bucks; to put that in perspective, 1,000 V-Bucks is priced at $8.99 and 2,800 V-Bucks are $22.99. You can rename a sidekick as many times as you'd like.

Player Response and Parallels

Most sidekicks haven't been officially released so far, meaning the cost could well change. Yet even if the developer sets sidekicks more affordable, a lot of the anger comes from the reality that players might need to spend for a one type of sidekick more than once. For some, the pricing scheme feels especially egregious considering the developer has previously introduced pets that ride around as part of back blings. Backpack companions do not have a customization limitation and can be seen by fellow participants in the match. Backpack pets cannot be named or perform emotes, however other gamers are able to occasionally interact with them — which is better than remaining invisible altogether.

Lack of unique features and limited engagement options have numerous gamers experiencing underwhelmed. Why can't you, for example, interact playfully with your fancy fruit-themed pet? Some point out that sidekicks do not always keep up with the player if a game is fast-paced, or observe that Peels takes up two spots in the battle pass — and this supports the idea that the company is squeezing the community for revenue. Greedy is a word that's appearing often in such conversations, with a number of comparing sidekick pricing to other intense monetization models in games like EA Sports FC. Additionally, it adds to the issue that some sidekicks are projected to be pricier than their character skin counterparts.

"We urge you to avoid purchasing Sidekicks," urges a popular community thread that advises other players to figuratively vote with their wallets.

"We understand they're adorable," the thread adds, "we realize they're fun. We are aware we have all been anticipating them. However the greed being shown is unacceptable and should not be rewarded."

A Broader Context of In-Game Purchases

In recent years, the game's special occasions and partnerships have grown in scope and ambition, yet the free-to-play game still needs to generate income. As such, the sheer quantity of cosmetics users are able to now purchase has grown nearly overwhelming. Beyond standard items like back accessories, gliders, harvesting tools, and emotes, you could possibly spend money on shoes, songs, musical tools, building blocks, vehicles, tires, custom paint jobs, seasonal rewards, and a membership. Companion pets not only cost money, but also bring in a range of new revenue options for the company. Presumably, players will before long be in a position to spend for things like sidekick appearances, outfits, emotes, and further engagement features.

All of such cosmetics are entirely optional and not necessary to have fun with the game, yet gear can still affect your social interactions. Younger players, for instance, sometimes face teasing for not wearing flashy enough skins. A comparable situation previously occurred when the developer launched licensed kicks, which can range from 600 to 1,000 V-Bucks. That footwear cost model was not well received either, and some fans promised that they'd avoid fall prey to the pressure back then. But in the end, buying shoes became normalized. Now, companion pets are further testing the limits of how much a gamer might be willing to spend to stand out within the player base.

What is Next for Companion Pets?

Sidekicks are still a fairly recent addition, and they exist a title that changes frequently. Some players are sharing that they've gotten a survey that gauges how the community think about sidekick functionality and pricing, and this might possibly indicate that the company's plans are still subject to change. Yet if Fortnite shoes are a sign, sidekicks likely will not become more affordable in general — there will just be a wider selection of costs to choose from.

After all, while some individuals are raging at the game item costs, others are feeling nothing but happiness for their battle royale friends.