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A number of battle royale players are experiencing let down, and this isn't due to recent in-game events. Fortnite's current mini-season, which brings a Simpsons-themed map, has also rolled out a fresh feature called sidekicks. It's impossible to ignore that these latest companions are adorable. But, the associated prices have left many players shocked at the company's attempts to monetize almost every aspect of the game.

What Are Sidekicks?

Companions are basically like Pokémon, but having a few limitations. You can name them, and these pets will accompany you during a match. These sidekicks are indestructible, and players can pet them. Other players not in your squad cannot see these pets — and showing off one's companions is perhaps half the fun of having them. Pets are able to be customized with outfits and gestures, however the controversy revolves around their looks. Each pet's overall design is only able to be altered once, after which that choice is final. You can choose a sidekick's coat color, accent hues, eye colors, pattern, and its body type.

The Costly Personalization Mechanism

If you afterward choose that they'd like your pet to appear slightly different, you cannot simply continue to customize the look. Players must buy a new companion. Furthermore, sidekicks aren't cheap. Most players are getting the Peels sidekick, because it's included with the current battle pass. According to leaks, future sidekicks 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 cost $22.99. However, players can rename a sidekick as many times as they want.

Community Reaction and Parallels

Most pets haven't been officially launched yet, meaning the cost may well change. But even if the developer makes sidekicks more affordable, a lot of the anger stems from the fact that players might need to spend for a one type of sidekick more than once. To certain players, the pricing scheme feels particularly egregious when the game has already added companions that ride about as part of backpack accessories. Back bling companions do not have a restriction on changes and can be seen by other players in the match. Backpack pets cannot be given a name or perform gestures, but opposing players can occasionally engage with them — which is more favorable than remaining invisible completely.

The absence of special features and restricted interaction choices have many players feeling disappointed. Why can't you, for example, play fetch with your fancy fruit-themed pet? A few point out that sidekicks sometimes fail to stay close with the user if a game is fast-paced, or mention that Peels takes up two spots in the reward system — and this reinforces the idea that the company is pressuring the community for revenue. Profit-driven is a word that's coming up frequently in such discussions, with a number of comparing sidekick pricing to similar aggressive monetization models in games like EA Sports FC. Additionally, it doesn't help that certain sidekicks are expected to be pricier than their character skin counterparts.

"PLEASE do not purchasing Sidekicks," pleads one popular community thread that encourages fellow players to proverbially vote with their wallets.

"I know these pets are cute," the thread continues, "we realize they're enjoyable. We are aware we have all been anticipating them. However the greed being shown is disgusting and should not be supported."

The Broader Picture of In-Game Purchases

In recent years, Fortnite's special occasions and partnerships have grown in scale and ambition, yet the free-to-play title still must earn income. Therefore, the sheer number of items users are able to currently purchase has grown almost excessive. In addition to basics like back blings, deployment tools, pickaxes, and gestures, players might potentially use money on footwear, music tracks, instruments, building blocks, cars, wheels, custom paint jobs, battle passes, and a membership. Sidekicks not only cost money, and also introduce a host of fresh revenue avenues for the developer. It is likely, players will soon be in a position to spend for things like pet appearances, outfits, gestures, and additional interaction options.

Every one of such customization items are entirely voluntary and not necessary to enjoy the experience, yet equipment can still affect a player's social experience. Kids, for example, at times encounter bullying for using impressive sufficiently cool outfits. A similar issue also occurred when the developer introduced licensed kicks, which can range from 600 to 1,000 V-Bucks. The shoe cost model was not popular either, and a few fans promised that they wouldn't fall prey to the pressure at the time. But in the end, purchasing footwear became normalized. Today, companion pets are further pushing the boundaries of how much a player could be prepared to pay to stand out amongst the player base.

What is Next for Companion Pets?

Sidekicks are currently a fairly new feature, and they exist a title that changes regularly. Some players are reporting that they've received a questionnaire that gauges how the community think about pet mechanics and pricing, and this might possibly mean that the developer's strategy are remain fluid. Yet if Fortnite shoes are any indication, sidekicks probably will not become cheaper in general — there will just be a broader selection of prices to choose from.

Ultimately, where certain individuals are raging at the game item costs, different players are experiencing nothing but happiness for their competitive pals.