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A number of Fortnite players are experiencing let down, and it's not due to the latest in-game events. The game's current limited-time event, which brings a Simpsons-themed map, also unveiled a fresh feature called sidekicks. It's impossible to ignore that the new pets are adorable. But, the attached prices have left numerous fans shocked at the company's efforts to profit from almost every part of the game.

Understanding Companion Pets?

Companions are essentially similar to Pokémon, but having some drawbacks. Players can name them, and these pets will follow your character during a match. These sidekicks are immortal, and you can pet them. Opposing players not in the player's squad cannot see these pets — and showing off your companions is arguably a big part of the enjoyment of having them. Sidekicks are able to be customized with outfits and gestures, however the debate revolves around their appearance. Each pet's main appearance can only be altered one time, after which that selection becomes final. You can choose a companion's fur shade, secondary colors, iris tones, pattern, and their build size.

The Costly Customization Mechanism

Should a player afterward choose that you want your sidekick to look slightly different, it's not possible to simply further customize its look. You have to purchase another companion. Furthermore, sidekicks are not inexpensive. Most people are obtaining the Peels pet, since it's packaged with the current reward track. According to 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 companion as many times as you'd like.

Player Response and Comparisons

Most pets haven't been officially released so far, so the cost may easily change. Yet even if the developer sets sidekicks more affordable, a lot of the frustration stems from the reality that gamers might have to pay for a one type of pet more than once. To certain players, the pricing scheme feels especially unfair considering the game has previously introduced pets that are carried about as part of backpack accessories. Backpack companions lack a restriction on changes and can be seen by other participants in the game. Backpack buddies cannot be named or use emotes, but opposing players are able to occasionally engage with them — and this is better than remaining unseen altogether.

The absence of unique functions and limited interaction options have numerous gamers feeling underwhelmed. Why can't a player, such as, play fetch with your fancy fruit-themed pet? A few note that sidekicks do not always keep up with the player if a match is fast-paced, or mention that the banana pet takes up two slots in the battle pass — and this reinforces the notion that the developer is squeezing the community for money. Profit-driven is a term that's appearing frequently in these conversations, with some likening sidekick pricing to similar intense monetization models in titles like EA Sports FC. Additionally, it doesn't help that certain pets are projected to be more expensive than their outfit versions.

"We urge you to do not purchasing Sidekicks," urges one highly-voted online thread that encourages fellow players to proverbially express disapproval by not spending.

"We understand these pets are adorable," the post adds, "I know they're fun. We are aware we have all been anticipating them. But the monetization focus being shown is unacceptable and must not be supported."

The Bigger Picture of In-Game Purchases

Over the past few years, the game's special occasions and partnerships have grown in scale and aspiration, yet the no-cost-to-start title still needs to earn revenue. Therefore, the sheer quantity of cosmetics users are able to currently purchase has become almost overwhelming. In addition to basics like back blings, deployment tools, harvesting tools, and emotes, players might potentially use cash on footwear, songs, musical tools, Lego pieces, cars, wheels, vehicle drift colors, battle passes, and a subscription. Sidekicks not only require payment, but also introduce a host of fresh monetization avenues for the company. Presumably, users will soon be in a position to pay for things like sidekick looks, outfits, gestures, and additional interaction options.

Every one of such customization items are completely optional and unneeded to enjoy the experience, yet gear can nonetheless influence your social experience. Younger players, for instance, at times encounter bullying for not wearing flashy sufficiently cool skins. A similar issue also occurred when the company launched brand-name kicks, which can range from 600 to 1,000 V-Bucks. The shoe pricing scheme wasn't popular as well, and a few fans promised that they'd avoid fall prey to the temptation at the time. But ultimately, purchasing shoes grew normalized. Today, sidekicks are further pushing the boundaries of how much a player could be willing to spend to be distinctive amongst the crowd.

What is Ahead for Sidekicks?

Pets are still a fairly new addition, and they exist a title that updates frequently. Some fans are sharing that they have received a questionnaire that assesses how the community think about sidekick functionality and monetization, and this might potentially mean that the developer's strategy are remain subject to change. Yet if Fortnite footwear are a sign, companions likely will not get more affordable overall — there will just be a wider range of costs to shop.

After all, while some players are expressing anger at the game item costs, different players are experiencing nothing but joy for their competitive pals.