🔗 Share this article

Some Fortnite enthusiasts are feeling let down, and it's not due to recent in-game happenings. Fortnite's newest mini-season, which introduces a Springfield map, also unveiled a brand-new mechanic called sidekicks. It's impossible to ignore that the new companions are adorable. But, the associated costs have made numerous players stunned at this company's attempts to monetize almost each part of the gaming experience.

Understanding Companion Pets?

Companions are essentially like Pokémon, though with a few limitations. You can give them a name, and these pets will follow your character throughout a game. These sidekicks are indestructible, and you can interact with them. Opposing players outside your squad cannot see sidekicks — and displaying your animal friends is perhaps half the enjoyment of owning them. Sidekicks can be customized with costumes and emotes, however the controversy revolves around their looks. A sidekick's main appearance is only able to be changed once, at which point that selection becomes permanent. Players can choose a sidekick's coat color, secondary colors, iris tones, markings, and its build size.

The Costly Customization Mechanism

If a player afterward choose that they'd like your sidekick to look slightly different, it's not possible to just further modify the look. Players must buy a new sidekick. And, these pets are not cheap. Most people are getting the Peels sidekick, since it is included in the current reward track. Based on leaks, future 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 are $22.99. You can change the name of a companion whenever you'd like.

Community Reaction and Comparisons

The majority of sidekicks haven't been officially released yet, so the pricing may easily be adjusted. But regardless of whether the developer sets companions more affordable, a lot of the anger stems from the reality that players might need to spend for a one type of pet more than once. To certain players, the cost structure seems especially egregious when the game has previously introduced companions that ride about inside back blings. Back bling pets do not have a customization limitation and can be seen by other players in the match. Back bling buddies cannot be given a name or perform gestures, but opposing players are able to occasionally interact with them — and this is better than remaining invisible completely.

Lack of unique functions and restricted engagement options have numerous gamers feeling underwhelmed. Why can't you, such as, play fetch with your stylish fruit-themed pet? A few point out that sidekicks sometimes fail to stay close with the player if a match is fast-paced, or mention that the banana pet takes up two spots in the battle pass — and this supports the idea that the developer is pressuring players for revenue. Profit-driven is a term that's coming up often in these discussions, with a number of comparing sidekick monetization to other intense monetization models in titles like popular sports games. Additionally, it doesn't help that certain sidekicks are projected to be more expensive than equivalent outfit counterparts.

"We urge you to do not buy Sidekicks," pleads a popular online thread that encourages other players to figuratively express disapproval by not spending.

"We understand these pets are adorable," the post continues, "I know they are fun. I know we have all been looking forward to them. However the monetization focus on display is disgusting and should not be rewarded."

The Bigger Picture of In-Game Spending

In recent years, Fortnite's special occasions and collaborations have expanded in scale and aspiration, yet the no-cost-to-start title still must generate income. As such, the sheer number of cosmetics users are able to now buy has grown almost excessive. In addition to basics like back blings, gliders, harvesting tools, and emotes, players might possibly use cash on shoes, music tracks, instruments, building blocks, vehicles, tires, custom paint jobs, seasonal rewards, and a membership. Companion pets do not just require money, but also introduce a range of fresh monetization options for the developer. Presumably, players will soon be in a position to spend for items like pet appearances, costumes, emotes, and further interaction features.

Every one of these cosmetics are entirely optional and not necessary to enjoy the game, yet equipment can nonetheless influence your community experience. Kids, for instance, at times encounter bullying for using flashy enough skins. A similar issue previously occurred when the developer introduced brand-name shoes, which may be priced from 600 to 1,000 V-Bucks. That shoe pricing scheme was not well received as well, and a few fans promised that they'd avoid succumb to the temptation at the time. However ultimately, buying shoes became commonplace. Now, companion pets are additionally pushing the boundaries of how much a gamer could be prepared to spend to stand out amongst the crowd.

What's Next for Companion Pets?

Pets are currently a fairly new feature, and they're part of a title that changes frequently. Some players are reporting that they've received a questionnaire that assesses how the community think about pet functionality and pricing, which could potentially indicate that the company's strategy are remain subject to change. But if Fortnite footwear are any indication, sidekicks likely won't get cheaper overall — there will just be a broader range of costs to shop.

Ultimately, where some players are raging at the game shop prices, different players are experiencing only happiness for their competitive friends.