🔗 Share this article

Some Fortnite enthusiasts are experiencing let down, and it's not due to recent virtual events. Fortnite's newest limited-time event, which brings a Springfield map, has also unveiled a brand-new feature known as sidekicks. There's no ignore that these latest pets are cute. But, the attached costs have left many players shocked at the developer's attempts to profit from nearly every part of the game.

What Are Sidekicks?

Companions are basically like Pokémon, though having a few limitations. Players can name them, and they will follow you throughout a match. These sidekicks are indestructible, and players can pet them. Opposing players not in the player's party are unable to view sidekicks — and displaying one's animal friends is perhaps half the enjoyment of having them. Sidekicks can be customized with costumes and emotes, however the controversy centers on their looks. Each sidekick's overall appearance is only able to be changed one time, at which point that selection is final. You can select a companion's fur shade, accent hues, iris tones, pattern, and their build size.

The Costly Customization System

Should you later decide that you want your pet to look slightly altered, it's not possible to just continue to modify the appearance. You have to buy a new companion. Furthermore, sidekicks are not cheap. Most players are obtaining the Peels sidekick, since it is packaged in this season's reward track. According to leaks, upcoming sidekicks could cost from 1,000 to 1,500 V-Bucks; for reference, 1,000 V-Bucks costs $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 Parallels

Most sidekicks have not been officially released so far, so the pricing may well be adjusted. But regardless of whether the developer makes sidekicks cheaper, a lot of the frustration comes from the reality that players could need to spend for a single type of sidekick more than once. To certain players, the cost structure feels particularly egregious considering the developer has already introduced pets that ride about inside backpack accessories. Back bling pets do not have a customization limitation and are visible by fellow participants in the match. Backpack buddies can't be given a name or use emotes, but opposing gamers can occasionally interact with them — which is better than being invisible completely.

Lack of unique features and restricted engagement options have many gamers feeling underwhelmed. Why can't you, such as, play fetch with your fancy banana dog? A few point out that companions sometimes fail to keep up with the player if a game is fast-paced, or mention that Peels occupies two spots in the battle pass — which supports the idea that the developer is squeezing the community for money. Profit-driven is a word that's coming up frequently in such discussions, with some likening sidekick monetization to similar intense pricing schemes in games like EA Sports FC. It also adds to the issue that certain sidekicks are expected to be pricier than their character skin counterparts.

"PLEASE avoid buy Companion Pets," pleads one highly-voted community thread that encourages fellow gamers to proverbially express disapproval by not spending.

"I know they're cute," the post adds, "I know they're enjoyable. I know everyone has been looking forward to them. But the monetization focus on display is disgusting and should not be supported."

The Broader Picture of Virtual Purchases

Over the past few years, the game's special occasions and collaborations have expanded in scope and aspiration, yet the free-to-play game still needs to earn revenue. As such, the total number of items users can now buy has become nearly excessive. Beyond basics like back blings, gliders, harvesting tools, and emotes, you could potentially use cash on shoes, music tracks, instruments, Lego pieces, cars, tires, custom paint jobs, battle passes, and a membership. Sidekicks do not just cost money, and also introduce a range of new monetization options for the developer. It is likely, players will soon be able to spend for items like pet looks, outfits, gestures, and further interaction options.

Every one of such cosmetics are entirely optional and unneeded to have fun with the experience, but equipment can nonetheless influence a player's community experience. Kids, for example, at times face bullying for using impressive enough skins. A similar situation also occurred when the company introduced brand-name shoes, which may be priced from 600 to 1,000 V-Bucks. That footwear cost model was not well received as well, and some players vowed that they wouldn't fall prey to the temptation at the time. However in the end, purchasing footwear grew commonplace. Today, sidekicks are additionally pushing the limits of what a player might be willing to spend to be distinctive amongst the crowd.

What's Next for Companion Pets?

Pets are currently a fairly new feature, and they're part of a game that updates regularly. Some fans are reporting that they've received a questionnaire that gauges how the community think about pet mechanics and pricing, which could possibly mean that the developer's plans are remain fluid. But if the game footwear are a sign, sidekicks probably won't become cheaper in general — there will just be a wider range of costs to shop.

Ultimately, where some players are expressing anger at the game shop prices, different players are feeling nothing but happiness for their new competitive friends.