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Some Fortnite players are feeling let down, and this isn't because of recent in-game happenings. Fortnite's newest mini-season, which brings a Springfield world, also unveiled a brand-new feature known as sidekicks. It's impossible to deny that the latest companions are cute. However, the attached prices have left numerous fans stunned at the developer's efforts to monetize nearly each part of the game.

What Are Companion Pets?

Companions are essentially similar to digital creatures, though having a few drawbacks. You can give them a name, and these pets will follow your character during a match. These sidekicks are immortal, and players can interact with them. Other gamers not in the player's squad cannot view sidekicks — and showing off your companions is perhaps a big part of the enjoyment of owning them. Pets are able to be outfitted with costumes and emotes, but the controversy centers on their looks. A sidekick's main appearance can only be changed one time, after which that choice becomes final. You can choose a companion's fur shade, accent hues, iris tones, pattern, and its body type.

The Costly Customization System

If a player later decide that they'd like their sidekick to look slightly different, it's not possible to just continue to modify its appearance. You have to buy another sidekick. Furthermore, these pets aren't cheap. The majority of people are getting the banana-themed pet, because it is packaged in the current reward track. According to leaks, future sidekicks could cost anywhere between 1,000 to 1,500 V-Bucks; for reference, 1,000 V-Bucks costs $8.99 and 2,800 V-Bucks cost $22.99. However, players can change the name of a sidekick whenever you'd like.

Player Reaction and Parallels

Most sidekicks haven't been officially launched yet, so the cost could well change. Yet regardless of whether the company makes sidekicks more affordable, much of the frustration stems from the reality that gamers might have to pay for a single kind of sidekick more than once. To certain players, the pricing scheme feels especially unfair considering the developer has previously introduced pets that are carried around inside backpack accessories. Backpack pets lack a customization limitation and are visible by other participants in the game. Backpack buddies cannot be named or use gestures, however other players can occasionally interact with them — and this is more favorable than being invisible altogether.

Lack of unique functions and limited interaction options have numerous gamers feeling disappointed. For instance, why is it not possible to you, for example, play fetch with their stylish fruit-themed pet? A few point out that companions sometimes fail to stay close with the player if a match is fast-paced, or mention that Peels takes up two spots in the reward system — which reinforces the idea that the company is pressuring the community for revenue. Profit-driven is a word that's appearing often in such conversations, with some likening sidekick monetization to similar aggressive pricing schemes in titles like EA Sports FC. It also adds to the issue that some sidekicks are expected to be more expensive than equivalent character skin versions.

"We urge you to do not purchasing Sidekicks," pleads one popular community post that encourages fellow gamers to figuratively vote with their wallets.

"I know these pets are adorable," the post adds, "we realize they're fun. We are aware everyone has been anticipating them. However the greed on display is disgusting and must not be rewarded."

The Broader Context of In-Game Purchases

Over the past few years, Fortnite's events and collaborations have expanded in scale and ambition, yet the no-cost-to-start game still needs to earn income. As such, the sheer quantity of cosmetics players can now buy has become almost overwhelming. In addition to basics like back accessories, deployment tools, harvesting tools, and emotes, you could possibly spend cash on shoes, music tracks, musical tools, Lego pieces, cars, wheels, vehicle drift colors, seasonal rewards, and a subscription. Companion pets not only cost money, but also introduce a range of new monetization avenues for the developer. It is likely, users will before long be in a position to pay for items like sidekick appearances, costumes, emotes, and further engagement features.

Every one of these customization items are completely voluntary and not necessary to enjoy the experience, yet equipment can still affect your social interactions. Younger players, for example, at times encounter bullying for not wearing impressive sufficiently cool outfits. A comparable situation previously occurred when the company launched brand-name kicks, which can range from 600 to 1,000 V-Bucks. The footwear pricing scheme was not popular as well, and some fans vowed that they wouldn't fall prey to the temptation back then. But in the end, buying footwear became normalized. Today, companion pets are additionally pushing the limits of how much a player could be prepared to spend to stand out amongst the player base.

What's Ahead for Sidekicks?

Pets are still a fairly recent addition, and they exist a title that changes frequently. Some players are sharing that they've received a survey that gauges how people feel about sidekick functionality and pricing, and this might potentially mean that the developer's strategy are remain fluid. But if Fortnite shoes are any indication, sidekicks probably won't become cheaper overall — there will just be a wider selection of costs to shop.

Ultimately, where certain players are expressing anger at the game shop prices, different players are feeling only happiness for their new competitive friends.