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A number of Fortnite enthusiasts are experiencing let down, and it's not because of recent virtual happenings. Fortnite's newest limited-time event, that brings a Springfield world, also rolled out a fresh feature called sidekicks. It's impossible to deny that the new pets are cute. But, the associated prices have left numerous fans shocked at the company's attempts to profit from almost each part of the game.

Understanding Sidekicks?

Sidekicks are essentially like Pokémon, but with some drawbacks. Players can name them, and they will follow your character throughout a match. They are immortal, and you can interact with them. Opposing players outside your squad are unable to see sidekicks — and showing off one's companions is perhaps half the fun of having them. Pets can be outfitted with costumes and emotes, but the debate centers on their appearance. A sidekick's main appearance is only able to be changed one time, after which that choice is final. You can choose a sidekick's fur shade, secondary colors, eye colors, pattern, and its build size.

The Expensive Personalization Mechanism

Should a player afterward choose that they'd like their pet to appear slightly altered, it's not possible to simply continue to customize the appearance. Players must purchase a new companion. And, these pets are not cheap. The majority of people are getting the banana-themed sidekick, since it's included in this season's reward track. Based on unofficial reports, future sidekicks could be priced at anywhere between 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. However, players can change the name of a sidekick as many times as you'd like.

Player Reaction and Parallels

The majority of pets haven't been formally released so far, meaning the cost could well be adjusted. But regardless of whether the company sets sidekicks cheaper, much of the frustration comes from the reality that players might have to pay for a one kind of sidekick multiple times. For some, the pricing scheme seems particularly egregious when the game has already introduced companions that are carried around inside back blings. Backpack pets do not have a customization limitation and are visible by fellow players in the match. Backpack pets cannot be given a name or perform gestures, but other gamers are able to sometimes engage with them — which is more favorable than being invisible completely.

The absence of special features and limited interaction options have numerous gamers feeling underwhelmed. For instance, why is it not possible to a player, such as, interact playfully with your stylish fruit-themed pet? A few note that sidekicks sometimes fail to stay close with the player if a match is moving quickly, or mention that Peels occupies two slots in the battle pass — and this reinforces the idea that the company is pressuring players for revenue. Greedy is a term that's coming up frequently in such discussions, with some likening sidekick monetization to similar aggressive monetization models in titles like popular sports games. Additionally, it adds to the issue that some sidekicks are projected to be more expensive than their outfit counterparts.

"PLEASE do not purchasing Sidekicks," pleads a popular online post that advises other gamers to proverbially express disapproval by not spending.

"I know they're adorable," the thread continues, "we realize they are fun. We are aware we have all been anticipating them. However the monetization focus on display is disgusting and must not be supported."

A Broader Context of Virtual Spending

Over the past few years, Fortnite's special occasions and collaborations have expanded in scale and aspiration, but the no-cost-to-start game continues to needs to generate income. Therefore, the sheer number of cosmetics players can currently buy has grown nearly excessive. Beyond standard items like back accessories, deployment tools, harvesting tools, and gestures, players might possibly spend money on footwear, music tracks, musical tools, building blocks, vehicles, tires, vehicle drift colors, battle passes, and a membership. Companion pets not only cost money, but also introduce a range of new monetization options for the developer. It is likely, players will soon be able to spend for things like pet appearances, outfits, emotes, and additional engagement features.

Every one of these cosmetics are entirely optional and not necessary to have fun with the experience, but gear can nonetheless influence your community interactions. Kids, for example, at times face teasing for not wearing impressive sufficiently cool skins. A comparable issue previously transpired when the developer launched licensed kicks, which can range from 600 to 1,000 V-Bucks. The footwear pricing scheme wasn't well received as well, and a few players promised that they wouldn't fall prey to the pressure back then. But ultimately, buying shoes grew commonplace. Now, companion pets are additionally pushing the boundaries of how much a player might be willing to spend to be distinctive amongst the crowd.

What is Next for Sidekicks?

Pets are still a relatively new addition, and they exist a game that changes frequently. A few players are reporting that they've gotten a questionnaire that assesses how the community think about pet mechanics and monetization, which could potentially mean that the developer's strategy are still fluid. But if the game shoes are a sign, companions likely will not become more affordable overall — instead, there may be a broader range of prices to choose from.

Ultimately, where some players are expressing anger at Fortnite item costs, different players are feeling nothing but happiness for their battle royale pals.