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A number of battle royale players are experiencing let down, and it's not due to recent virtual happenings. Fortnite's current limited-time event, that introduces a Springfield world, has also rolled out a fresh feature called sidekicks. It's impossible to ignore that these new pets are adorable. However, the attached prices have left numerous fans stunned at this developer's efforts to monetize almost every aspect of the gaming experience.

Understanding Companion Pets?

Companions are essentially similar to Pokémon, but with a few limitations. Players can name them, and they will accompany you during a game. These sidekicks are indestructible, and players can interact with them. Opposing gamers outside the player's squad are unable to see sidekicks — and displaying your animal friends is perhaps a big part of the enjoyment of owning them. Sidekicks can be outfitted with outfits and emotes, however the controversy centers on their looks. A pet's overall appearance is only able to be altered one time, at which point that selection is final. You can select a sidekick's coat color, accent hues, iris tones, pattern, and its body type.

The Costly Personalization Mechanism

Should a player later choose that they'd like their sidekick to appear a bit altered, it's not possible to just further modify its appearance. You have to purchase a new companion. Furthermore, these pets are not cheap. The majority of people are obtaining the Peels sidekick, because it is included with this season's reward track. According to unofficial reports, future sidekicks may be priced at anywhere between 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 cost $22.99. You can change the name of a sidekick as many times as they want.

Community Reaction and Parallels

The majority of sidekicks haven't been officially launched so far, so the cost could easily be adjusted. But even if the developer sets sidekicks more affordable, much of the anger comes from the reality that gamers could need to spend for a single kind of sidekick multiple times. To certain players, the cost structure feels especially unfair considering the developer has already introduced pets that ride around inside back blings. Back bling pets lack a customization limitation and are visible by other players in the game. Backpack buddies cannot be given a name or perform emotes, however other players can sometimes interact with them — and this is more favorable than being invisible altogether.

The absence of unique features and limited interaction options have many gamers feeling underwhelmed. For instance, why is it not possible to you, for example, play fetch with your fancy fruit-themed pet? A few point out that companions do not always keep up with the user if a game is fast-paced, or mention that the banana pet occupies two slots in the reward system — which supports the notion that the company is squeezing players for money. Profit-driven is a word that's coming up frequently in such discussions, with some comparing pet monetization to other intense monetization models in titles like popular sports games. Additionally, it doesn't help that some sidekicks are projected to be pricier than equivalent character skin versions.

"PLEASE do not buy Sidekicks," urges a popular community post that advises fellow gamers 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 greed on display is disgusting and must not be rewarded."

The Bigger Context of Virtual Purchases

Over the past few years, the game's special occasions and partnerships have expanded in scope and ambition, but the no-cost-to-start title still must earn revenue. As such, the sheer quantity of cosmetics players are able to currently purchase has become nearly overwhelming. Beyond standard items like back accessories, deployment tools, pickaxes, and emotes, players might possibly use cash on shoes, music tracks, instruments, building blocks, cars, tires, vehicle drift colors, seasonal rewards, and a subscription. Sidekicks not only require payment, and also introduce a host of new revenue options for the developer. It is likely, players will before long be able to spend for things like pet looks, costumes, gestures, and additional engagement options.

All of such cosmetics are entirely optional and not necessary to have fun with the experience, yet equipment can nonetheless influence your social experience. Kids, for instance, at times face bullying for using impressive enough outfits. A comparable issue previously transpired when the company launched licensed kicks, which may be priced from 600 to 1,000 V-Bucks. The footwear cost model wasn't well received as well, and a few fans promised that they'd avoid succumb to the pressure back then. However in the end, purchasing footwear grew commonplace. Today, sidekicks are further testing the limits of what a gamer might be willing to spend to stand out amongst the player base.

What is Ahead for Sidekicks?

Pets are still a relatively recent addition, and they exist a game that updates regularly. Some players are sharing that they have received a questionnaire that assesses how people think about pet mechanics and monetization, which could possibly mean that the company's plans are still subject to change. But if Fortnite footwear are a sign, sidekicks likely will not get cheaper overall — instead, there may be a wider range of prices to choose from.

After all, where certain individuals are expressing anger at Fortnite shop prices, others are experiencing nothing but joy for their battle royale friends.