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Some Fortnite players are experiencing disappointed, and it's not because of recent virtual happenings. The game's current limited-time event, that introduces a Simpsons-themed world, also unveiled a fresh feature called sidekicks. There's no deny that the new pets are cute. But, the associated costs have made many fans stunned at the developer's attempts to profit from nearly each aspect of the gaming experience.

What Are Sidekicks?

Companions are essentially similar to digital creatures, but with some drawbacks. Players can name them, and these pets will follow your character during a game. These sidekicks are indestructible, and players can interact with them. Opposing gamers not in the player's party cannot view sidekicks — and showing off one's animal friends is arguably half the enjoyment of having them. Pets can be outfitted with outfits and gestures, however the controversy revolves around their appearance. A pet's overall appearance is only able to be changed once, after which that choice is permanent. Players can select a sidekick's coat color, accent hues, eye colors, pattern, and its body type.

The Expensive Customization System

Should you afterward decide that they'd like their pet to look a bit altered, you cannot simply further customize its appearance. Players must purchase another sidekick. And, these pets are not cheap. The majority of players are obtaining the Peels sidekick, because it's packaged in this season's battle pass. According to leaks, upcoming pets could be priced at from 1,000 to 1,500 V-Bucks; to put that in perspective, 1,000 V-Bucks costs $8.99 and 2,800 V-Bucks are $22.99. However, players can rename a sidekick whenever they want.

Community Reaction and Comparisons

Most pets have not been formally launched yet, meaning the pricing could easily be adjusted. But even if the developer sets companions more affordable, a lot of the frustration comes from the reality that players might need to pay for a one type of sidekick multiple times. For some, the pricing scheme feels particularly unfair considering the game has already added companions that are carried about inside backpack accessories. Backpack pets do not have a restriction on changes and are visible by fellow players in the match. Backpack pets cannot be named or use gestures, but other gamers can occasionally engage with them — which is better than remaining invisible altogether.

The absence of special features and restricted interaction choices have numerous gamers experiencing underwhelmed. Why can't you, such as, interact playfully with your stylish banana dog? A few point out that sidekicks sometimes fail to keep up with the player if a game is fast-paced, or observe that the banana pet takes up two spots in the battle pass — and this reinforces the idea that the company is squeezing the community for revenue. Greedy is a word that's appearing frequently in these conversations, with some comparing sidekick pricing to similar aggressive monetization models in games like EA Sports FC. It also adds to the issue that certain sidekicks are expected to be pricier than their outfit versions.

"PLEASE avoid purchasing Companion Pets," pleads a highly-voted online thread that advises other gamers to proverbially vote with their wallets.

"We understand these pets are cute," the thread continues, "we realize they're fun. We are aware we have all been anticipating them. But the monetization focus being shown is disgusting and must not be supported."

A Bigger Context of In-Game Spending

In recent years, Fortnite's special occasions and partnerships have expanded in scale and aspiration, yet the free-to-play game still must earn income. As such, the total quantity of items users are able to now purchase has grown almost overwhelming. In addition to basics like back blings, deployment tools, harvesting tools, and gestures, players might potentially spend money on shoes, songs, musical tools, building blocks, vehicles, tires, custom paint jobs, seasonal rewards, and a membership. Sidekicks not only require money, but also introduce a host of new revenue options for the company. It is likely, users will before long be able to pay for things like sidekick looks, outfits, emotes, and further interaction features.

All of these cosmetics are completely voluntary and not necessary to have fun with the game, yet equipment can still affect your social interactions. Kids, for instance, at times face teasing for using flashy sufficiently cool outfits. A comparable issue also occurred when the developer 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 a few players vowed that they wouldn't fall prey to the pressure at the time. But in the end, buying footwear grew normalized. Now, sidekicks are additionally testing the limits of what a gamer might be willing to spend to be distinctive within the crowd.

What's Ahead for Companion Pets?

Sidekicks are still a fairly new addition, and they exist a title that changes regularly. Some fans are sharing that they've received a questionnaire that assesses how the community feel about pet functionality and pricing, and this might potentially indicate that the developer's strategy are remain subject to change. Yet if the game footwear are any indication, sidekicks probably will not get cheaper overall — instead, there may be a broader range of prices to shop.

Ultimately, where certain individuals are raging at the game item costs, different players are experiencing only joy for their competitive pals.