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A number of Fortnite enthusiasts are feeling disappointed, and it's not because of recent virtual happenings. Fortnite's current mini-season, which brings a Springfield world, has also unveiled a fresh mechanic called sidekicks. It's impossible to deny that the latest pets are cute. However, the associated costs have made numerous players shocked at the developer's attempts to profit from almost each aspect of the gaming experience.

What Are Sidekicks?

Companions are essentially like digital creatures, but with some limitations. Players can name them, and they will accompany your character during a game. They are immortal, and you can interact with them. Other gamers outside the player's squad cannot see these pets — and showing off one's companions is arguably half the fun of having them. Sidekicks can be customized with costumes and emotes, however the debate centers on their looks. Each sidekick's overall design is only able to be changed once, after which that choice is permanent. You can select a companion's fur shade, secondary colors, iris tones, markings, and their body type.

The Expensive Personalization Mechanism

Should a player later choose that they'd like your pet to appear slightly different, it's not possible to just further customize the appearance. Players must purchase another sidekick. And, sidekicks are not cheap. Most players are getting the banana-themed sidekick, because it's included in the current battle pass. Based on leaks, upcoming pets 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 change the name of a sidekick as many times as you'd like.

Player Response and Comparisons

Most pets have not been formally launched yet, so the pricing could well be adjusted. Yet even if the developer makes sidekicks more affordable, a lot of the anger comes from the fact that players might need to spend for a single type of sidekick more than once. To certain players, the cost structure seems particularly egregious when the developer has already added pets that are carried around inside backpack accessories. Back bling companions do not have a customization limitation and are visible by fellow players in the game. Back bling pets can't be given a name or use emotes, but opposing players are able to occasionally interact with them — and this is more favorable than being unseen completely.

Lack of special functions and limited interaction options have many players feeling underwhelmed. For instance, why is it not possible to you, for example, play fetch with their stylish banana dog? Some note that companions do not always stay close with the player if a game is fast-paced, or mention that the banana pet occupies two spots in the battle pass — which reinforces the notion that the developer is pressuring players for revenue. Greedy is a term that's appearing often in such conversations, with a number of comparing pet monetization to similar aggressive monetization models in titles like popular sports games. It also adds to the issue that some sidekicks are projected to be more expensive than their character skin versions.

"PLEASE do not purchasing Sidekicks," urges a highly-voted online thread that advises other gamers to proverbially vote with their wallets.

"I know these pets are adorable," the thread adds, "we realize they're fun. We are aware we have all been anticipating them. But the monetization focus being shown is disgusting and should not be rewarded."

The Broader Picture of In-Game Purchases

In recent years, Fortnite's events and partnerships have grown in scale and aspiration, but the free-to-play title still needs to earn income. As such, the total quantity of cosmetics users are able to now buy has grown nearly overwhelming. In addition to basics like back accessories, gliders, harvesting tools, and emotes, you could possibly spend money on footwear, songs, musical tools, building blocks, cars, wheels, custom paint jobs, seasonal rewards, and a subscription. Sidekicks do not just cost payment, but also bring in a range of fresh revenue avenues for the developer. It is likely, users will before long be able to spend for things like sidekick appearances, outfits, gestures, and further engagement options.

Every one of these customization items are completely voluntary and unneeded to have fun with the experience, but gear can still influence a player's social experience. Younger players, for example, at times encounter teasing for using impressive enough outfits. A comparable issue also occurred when the company introduced brand-name shoes, which may be priced from 600 to 1,000 V-Bucks. The shoe cost model was not popular as well, and a few fans vowed that they wouldn't succumb to the pressure at the time. However in the end, buying footwear became normalized. Now, sidekicks are additionally testing the limits of what a gamer could be willing to spend to stand out within the crowd.

What is Ahead for Companion Pets?

Sidekicks are currently a fairly recent feature, and they're part of a title that changes frequently. A few players are reporting that they've received a questionnaire that assesses how people feel about pet mechanics and monetization, which could possibly mean that the developer's strategy are remain fluid. Yet if Fortnite shoes are any indication, sidekicks likely will not get cheaper overall — there will just be a broader range of prices to choose from.

After all, while some individuals are raging at Fortnite shop prices, different players are experiencing only happiness for their battle royale friends.