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Some battle royale players are feeling disappointed, and it's not due to recent virtual events. The game's newest mini-season, which introduces a Simpsons-themed map, also unveiled a brand-new feature known as sidekicks. It's impossible to ignore that the new companions are adorable. But, the attached prices have left many fans shocked at the developer's efforts to profit from almost every aspect of the gaming experience.

What Are Companion Pets?

Sidekicks are essentially like Pokémon, but with some drawbacks. Players can give them a name, and they will accompany your character during a match. They are indestructible, and you can interact with them. Other gamers outside your party are unable to see sidekicks — and showing off your animal friends is arguably a big part of the fun of having them. Sidekicks are able to be customized with outfits and gestures, but the controversy centers on their looks. Each sidekick's overall design can only be changed once, at which point that selection becomes final. You can choose a companion's fur shade, secondary colors, iris tones, pattern, and their build size.

The Expensive Personalization Mechanism

If you later choose that they'd like your sidekick to appear slightly different, you cannot just continue to customize its look. Players must buy a new companion. And, these pets are not cheap. The majority of people are obtaining the banana-themed sidekick, because it's packaged in the current battle pass. Based on leaks, 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 companion whenever you'd like.

Community Reaction and Parallels

Most sidekicks have not been officially released yet, meaning the cost could well be adjusted. But even if the company sets companions more affordable, a lot of the frustration comes from the fact that gamers might have to pay for a one kind of sidekick multiple times. To certain players, the cost structure feels particularly egregious considering the game has already introduced companions that are carried about as part of backpack accessories. Back bling pets do not have a restriction on changes and can be seen by other players in the game. Back bling buddies cannot be given a name or perform gestures, however other players can occasionally interact with them — which is more favorable than being invisible altogether.

The absence of unique functions and restricted engagement options have numerous players feeling disappointed. Why can't a player, for example, interact playfully with their stylish banana dog? A few note that sidekicks do not always keep up with the user if a game is moving quickly, or mention that the banana pet occupies two spots in the reward system — which supports the notion that the developer is pressuring players for money. Greedy is a word that's coming up often in these conversations, with some comparing sidekick pricing to other aggressive monetization models in titles like popular sports games. Additionally, it doesn't help that some pets are expected to be pricier than equivalent outfit counterparts.

"We urge you to do not buy Sidekicks," pleads one highly-voted community post that advises other players to figuratively express disapproval by not spending.

"We understand they're cute," the thread adds, "I know they're fun. We are aware everyone has been anticipating them. But the greed on display is disgusting and should not be supported."

The Broader Context of Virtual Purchases

In recent years, Fortnite's events and collaborations have grown in scale and ambition, yet the free-to-play game still needs to generate income. As such, the sheer quantity of items users are able to currently buy has grown nearly excessive. Beyond basics like back accessories, gliders, pickaxes, and gestures, players might potentially spend cash on footwear, songs, musical tools, Lego pieces, cars, wheels, custom paint jobs, seasonal rewards, and a membership. Companion pets not only cost money, and also introduce a range of new revenue options for the company. Presumably, players will before long be able to pay for things like pet appearances, outfits, emotes, and further interaction options.

All of such cosmetics are entirely optional and not necessary to enjoy the experience, yet equipment can nonetheless influence your social interactions. Younger players, for instance, sometimes face bullying for not wearing flashy enough skins. A comparable issue also occurred when the company launched licensed kicks, which can range from 600 to 1,000 V-Bucks. That footwear pricing scheme wasn't well received either, and some fans promised that they'd avoid fall prey to the pressure at the time. However ultimately, buying shoes became commonplace. Now, companion pets are further testing the limits of what a gamer might be willing to pay to stand out amongst the player base.

What's Next for Companion Pets?

Sidekicks are currently a relatively new addition, and they're part of a game that changes frequently. A few fans are sharing that they've received a questionnaire that assesses how the community feel about pet functionality and monetization, which could possibly mean that the developer's strategy are still fluid. But if Fortnite footwear are any indication, companions likely will not get cheaper overall — instead, there may be a wider range of costs to shop.

Ultimately, while certain individuals are raging at Fortnite shop prices, different players are experiencing only joy for their battle royale pals.