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A number of Fortnite enthusiasts are experiencing disappointed, and this isn't because of recent in-game events. The game's newest limited-time event, which brings a Springfield map, has also rolled out a brand-new mechanic called pets. There's no ignore that the latest pets are adorable. However, the attached costs have made many players stunned at this company's attempts to monetize almost every aspect of the game.

Understanding Sidekicks?

Sidekicks are essentially like Pokémon, though having some drawbacks. You can name them, and they will follow you throughout a game. They are immortal, and you can pet them. Other players not in your party are unable to see these pets — and showing off one's companions is perhaps a big part of the fun of owning them. Sidekicks are able to be outfitted with outfits and emotes, however the controversy revolves around their appearance. A pet's overall appearance is only able to be altered once, at which point that selection becomes final. You can choose a sidekick's coat color, secondary colors, iris tones, markings, and their build size.

A Expensive Customization Mechanism

If a player later choose that they'd like their pet to look slightly different, it's not possible to simply continue to customize its appearance. Players must buy another sidekick. And, sidekicks aren't inexpensive. Most players are getting the Peels sidekick, since it is packaged in this season's battle pass. According to leaks, upcoming sidekicks could cost anywhere between 1,000 to 1,500 V-Bucks; for reference, 1,000 V-Bucks costs $8.99 and 2,800 V-Bucks are $22.99. However, players can change the name of a companion whenever you'd like.

Player Response and Parallels

The majority of pets have not been formally launched yet, meaning the cost may easily be adjusted. Yet regardless of whether the company makes companions more affordable, much of the frustration comes from the reality that gamers could need to pay for a single type of sidekick multiple times. For some, the cost structure feels particularly unfair considering the developer has previously introduced pets that are carried around inside backpack accessories. Back bling companions lack a restriction on changes and are visible by other players in the game. Back bling pets cannot be named or perform emotes, however other players are able to occasionally interact with them — which is better than remaining unseen altogether.

The absence of unique features and restricted engagement options have many gamers experiencing underwhelmed. For instance, why is it not possible to you, such as, interact playfully with their stylish banana dog? Some note 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 — which supports the notion that the developer is pressuring the community for revenue. Greedy is a word that's appearing frequently in these conversations, with a number of likening sidekick pricing to other aggressive pricing schemes in titles like EA Sports FC. Additionally, it doesn't help that certain pets are projected to be pricier than their character skin versions.

"We urge you to do not buy Sidekicks," pleads a popular community thread that encourages fellow gamers to figuratively vote with their wallets.

"We understand these pets are adorable," the thread continues, "we realize they're enjoyable. We are aware we have all been anticipating them. But the greed on display is unacceptable and should not be rewarded."

The Broader Picture of In-Game Purchases

Over the past few years, the game's events and collaborations have grown in scope and aspiration, but the free-to-play game continues to needs to earn revenue. Therefore, the sheer quantity of items players can now buy has become nearly excessive. Beyond basics like back blings, gliders, harvesting tools, and emotes, you could possibly spend cash on footwear, music tracks, instruments, building blocks, vehicles, tires, vehicle drift colors, seasonal rewards, and a membership. Sidekicks do not just require money, but also introduce a range of new monetization options for the company. Presumably, players will soon be in a position to pay for things like pet looks, costumes, gestures, and additional interaction features.

All of these customization items are entirely voluntary and unneeded to have fun with the experience, yet gear can nonetheless affect a player's community experience. Younger players, for example, sometimes face teasing for using flashy sufficiently cool skins. A comparable issue also transpired when the developer introduced brand-name kicks, which may be priced from 600 to 1,000 V-Bucks. That footwear pricing scheme was not popular as well, and some fans promised that they'd avoid fall prey to the temptation at the time. But ultimately, purchasing footwear became commonplace. Today, companion pets are further testing the boundaries of how much a gamer could be prepared to pay to stand out amongst the player base.

What's Ahead for Sidekicks?

Pets are currently a fairly recent addition, and they're part of a title that updates frequently. A few fans are reporting that they have gotten a questionnaire that gauges how people feel about pet mechanics and pricing, which could possibly indicate that the developer's strategy are remain subject to change. Yet if Fortnite shoes are a sign, sidekicks probably will not become cheaper in general — there will just be a broader selection of prices to shop.

Ultimately, where some players are raging at Fortnite shop prices, different players are experiencing nothing but joy for their new competitive pals.