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A number of battle royale enthusiasts are feeling disappointed, and this isn't because of recent virtual happenings. The game's newest mini-season, which brings a Simpsons-themed world, also unveiled a brand-new feature called sidekicks. There's no ignore that these new companions are adorable. But, the associated prices have made numerous players stunned at the company's attempts to monetize nearly each part of the game.

What Are Companion Pets?

Companions are essentially similar to Pokémon, though with a few drawbacks. You can name them, and they will follow your character throughout a game. They are immortal, and you can interact with them. Opposing players outside the player's squad are unable to see sidekicks — and displaying your animal friends is arguably a big part of the enjoyment of owning them. Pets can be customized with costumes and emotes, however the controversy revolves around their looks. Each sidekick's main design can only be changed once, after which that choice becomes final. You can choose a sidekick's coat color, secondary colors, iris tones, markings, and their build size.

The Costly Customization Mechanism

If you afterward choose that you want their sidekick to appear slightly different, it's not possible to simply continue to modify its appearance. Players must purchase another sidekick. Furthermore, sidekicks aren't inexpensive. Most players are getting the banana-themed pet, because it's included in the current battle pass. Based on leaks, upcoming pets could cost from 1,000 to 1,500 V-Bucks; for reference, 1,000 V-Bucks is priced at $8.99 and 2,800 V-Bucks cost $22.99. You can change the name of a companion as many times as they want.

Player Reaction and Parallels

The majority of sidekicks haven't been officially released so far, meaning the cost could well change. But even if the developer makes sidekicks cheaper, a lot of the anger comes from the fact that gamers might have to pay for a single type of sidekick more than once. For some, the cost structure seems particularly egregious when the developer has previously added pets that ride around as part of back blings. Back bling companions lack a restriction on changes and can be seen by fellow players in the match. Back bling buddies cannot be named or perform emotes, but opposing gamers are able to sometimes engage with them — and this is more favorable than being invisible completely.

The absence of unique functions and limited interaction options have many players experiencing disappointed. For instance, why is it not possible to a player, for example, interact playfully with your stylish banana dog? A few note that companions do not always keep up with the user if a game is moving quickly, or observe that the banana pet occupies two spots in the battle pass — which reinforces the idea that the company is squeezing the community for money. Profit-driven is a word that's appearing often in such discussions, with some comparing pet pricing to similar intense pricing schemes in titles like popular sports games. Additionally, it doesn't help that certain sidekicks are projected to be more expensive than equivalent outfit versions.

"We urge you to avoid purchasing Sidekicks," urges one popular online thread that advises other players to figuratively express disapproval by not spending.

"I know these pets are cute," the post adds, "I know they're enjoyable. We are aware we have all been anticipating them. But the greed being shown is unacceptable and should not be supported."

A Broader Context of In-Game Spending

In recent years, Fortnite's special occasions and partnerships have expanded in scope and aspiration, but the no-cost-to-start game continues to needs to generate revenue. As such, the sheer quantity of cosmetics players can currently purchase has grown nearly overwhelming. In addition to basics like back blings, gliders, pickaxes, and emotes, players might possibly use cash on shoes, music tracks, musical tools, Lego pieces, vehicles, wheels, custom paint jobs, seasonal rewards, and a subscription. Companion pets do not just cost payment, and also introduce a range of fresh monetization options for the developer. It is likely, players will soon be able to pay for things like sidekick appearances, costumes, gestures, and further engagement options.

Every one of such customization items are entirely optional and unneeded to enjoy the experience, but equipment can nonetheless affect a player's community experience. Younger players, for instance, sometimes face bullying for using impressive enough outfits. A comparable issue previously transpired when the company introduced licensed shoes, which may be priced from 600 to 1,000 V-Bucks. The shoe pricing scheme was not well received either, and some fans promised that they'd avoid succumb to the temptation back then. However in the end, buying footwear became commonplace. Today, sidekicks are additionally testing the boundaries of what a gamer might be willing to spend to be distinctive within the crowd.

What's Next for Sidekicks?

Sidekicks are currently a fairly new feature, and they exist a game that changes regularly. A few fans are reporting that they've gotten a questionnaire that gauges how the community think about sidekick mechanics and monetization, which could possibly indicate that the company's strategy are remain fluid. But if Fortnite shoes are a sign, companions likely will not become cheaper in general — instead, there may be a broader selection of costs to shop.

Ultimately, while some individuals are expressing anger at the game shop prices, others are experiencing only joy for their new battle royale pals.