🔗 Share this article

A number of battle royale players are feeling let down, and this isn't due to recent in-game happenings. Fortnite's newest mini-season, that introduces a Springfield map, also unveiled a fresh feature called sidekicks. There's no deny that the new companions are cute. But, the associated costs have made numerous players stunned at this developer's efforts to monetize nearly every aspect of the game.

What Are Companion Pets?

Companions are essentially like Pokémon, but having a few drawbacks. Players can name them, and they will accompany you during a game. These sidekicks are indestructible, and you can interact with them. Other players not in the player's party cannot see sidekicks — and showing off your companions is perhaps a big part of the fun of having them. Sidekicks are able to be outfitted with costumes and gestures, but the controversy revolves around their appearance. Each sidekick's main appearance can only be changed one time, after which that choice is permanent. Players can select a sidekick's coat color, accent hues, iris tones, pattern, and its build size.

A Expensive Personalization Mechanism

If you afterward decide that you want their sidekick to appear a bit altered, you cannot simply further modify the appearance. Players must purchase a new companion. Furthermore, these pets are not cheap. Most players are obtaining the Peels pet, because it is included with this season's battle pass. According to leaks, upcoming pets could be priced at from 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. You can rename a companion whenever they want.

Community Response and Parallels

The majority of pets haven't been officially launched yet, meaning the pricing could easily be adjusted. But even if the developer makes sidekicks cheaper, much of the frustration stems from the fact that gamers might need to pay for a single type of pet more than once. For some, the cost structure seems particularly unfair when the game has previously added pets that are carried about inside backpack accessories. Back bling companions do not have a customization limitation and are visible by other participants in the match. Backpack pets cannot be named or use gestures, but other gamers are able to occasionally engage with them — which is more favorable than remaining invisible completely.

The absence of unique functions and restricted interaction options have many players feeling disappointed. For instance, why is it not possible to you, such as, play fetch with their fancy banana dog? Some point out that companions sometimes fail to stay close with the user if a game is fast-paced, or mention that Peels takes up two slots in the battle pass — and this supports the notion that the developer is pressuring the community for money. Profit-driven is a term that's coming up often in such conversations, with some likening pet pricing to similar aggressive monetization models in games like EA Sports FC. It also adds to the issue that some pets are projected to be more expensive than equivalent character skin counterparts.

"PLEASE avoid purchasing Sidekicks," pleads a highly-voted community thread that advises fellow gamers to proverbially vote with their wallets.

"I know these pets are cute," the thread adds, "we realize they are fun. I know everyone has been anticipating them. However the monetization focus being shown is unacceptable and must not be rewarded."

A Broader Context of Virtual Spending

In recent years, Fortnite's events and partnerships have grown in scale and aspiration, yet the free-to-play game continues to must generate revenue. As such, the total quantity of cosmetics users are able to currently purchase has become almost excessive. In addition to basics like back accessories, gliders, harvesting tools, and gestures, you could possibly use cash on footwear, music tracks, instruments, building blocks, cars, tires, vehicle drift colors, seasonal rewards, and a membership. Sidekicks do not just cost payment, but also bring in a range of new revenue options for the developer. It is likely, players will before long be able to pay for items like sidekick appearances, outfits, gestures, and further engagement options.

All of these customization items are completely voluntary and not necessary to enjoy the game, yet equipment can still affect your social experience. Younger players, for instance, at times face bullying for not wearing flashy sufficiently cool skins. A comparable issue previously transpired when the developer introduced licensed kicks, which may be priced from 600 to 1,000 V-Bucks. That shoe cost model was not well received either, and a few players promised that they'd avoid succumb to the pressure back then. But in the end, purchasing footwear became normalized. Now, companion pets are additionally pushing the boundaries of what a gamer could be prepared to spend to be distinctive amongst the crowd.

What's Ahead for Companion Pets?

Pets are still a relatively recent addition, and they're part of a title that changes frequently. Some players are sharing that they've received a survey that gauges how people think about sidekick mechanics and monetization, and this might possibly indicate that the company's strategy are still subject to change. But if the game shoes are a sign, sidekicks likely won't become more affordable overall — there will just be a wider selection of prices to shop.

After all, where some players are raging at the game item costs, others are experiencing only joy for their new competitive pals.