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A number of battle royale players are experiencing let down, and it's not because of the latest virtual events. Fortnite's current mini-season, which brings a Springfield map, also unveiled a fresh feature called pets. There's no deny that the new pets are cute. However, the associated prices have left many players stunned at the developer's attempts to monetize almost each part of the game.

What Are Companion Pets?

Sidekicks are basically like Pokémon, but with a few drawbacks. You can give them a name, and these pets will follow you throughout a game. They are indestructible, and players can interact with them. Opposing players not in the player's party cannot see sidekicks — and displaying your companions is arguably a big part of the enjoyment of owning them. Pets can be outfitted with costumes and gestures, but the debate centers on their looks. Each sidekick's main design is only able to be changed once, at which point that selection becomes permanent. Players can select a companion's fur shade, accent hues, iris tones, pattern, and their build size.

The Costly Customization System

Should you afterward choose that you want their sidekick to look slightly altered, it's not possible to simply continue to customize the appearance. Players must buy another sidekick. And, sidekicks are not cheap. Most people are obtaining the Peels sidekick, since it's included in this season's battle pass. 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 are $22.99. However, players can change the name of a sidekick whenever you'd like.

Player Response and Parallels

Most sidekicks have not been formally released yet, so the pricing may easily change. But even if the developer sets companions cheaper, a lot of the anger comes from the fact that players could need to pay for a one type of pet more than once. For some, the cost structure seems particularly egregious considering the game has already added companions that ride about inside back blings. Backpack companions lack a restriction on changes and can be seen by other participants in the game. Backpack buddies cannot be named or use emotes, however opposing players are able to occasionally interact with them — which is better than being invisible completely.

Lack of unique functions and limited interaction options have numerous players feeling disappointed. Why can't a player, such as, play fetch with your stylish banana dog? A few note that sidekicks do not always stay close with the player if a game is moving quickly, or mention that Peels occupies two slots in the reward system — which reinforces the notion that the developer is squeezing the community for money. Greedy is a word that's coming up often in these discussions, with a number of likening sidekick monetization to other aggressive pricing schemes in games like EA Sports FC. Additionally, it doesn't help that some sidekicks are projected to be more expensive than equivalent outfit counterparts.

"PLEASE avoid buy Sidekicks," pleads one popular online thread that advises fellow gamers to proverbially vote with their wallets.

"I know these pets are adorable," the post continues, "we realize they are fun. We are aware everyone has been anticipating them. However the greed being shown is unacceptable and must not be supported."

The Broader Context of Virtual Purchases

In recent years, the game's special occasions and collaborations have grown in scope and ambition, but the no-cost-to-start game still needs to generate revenue. As such, the sheer quantity of cosmetics users can now purchase has become nearly excessive. In addition to basics like back accessories, deployment tools, harvesting tools, and emotes, players might potentially spend cash on footwear, songs, musical tools, building blocks, vehicles, wheels, custom paint jobs, battle passes, and a subscription. Sidekicks not only require payment, and also bring in a host of fresh revenue options for the company. Presumably, users will soon be able to pay for items like sidekick appearances, costumes, gestures, and additional interaction options.

Every one of these cosmetics are entirely optional and not necessary to enjoy the game, but equipment can nonetheless influence a player's social interactions. Kids, for example, sometimes encounter bullying for not wearing impressive enough outfits. A similar issue also occurred when the developer introduced brand-name kicks, which can range from 600 to 1,000 V-Bucks. That shoe cost model wasn't well received as well, and some fans promised that they wouldn't fall prey to the pressure back then. However in the end, buying footwear grew normalized. Today, companion pets are additionally testing the limits of what a player could be prepared to spend to be distinctive within the player base.

What's Ahead for Sidekicks?

Pets are currently a relatively new addition, and they're part of a game that updates regularly. Some fans are sharing that they have gotten a questionnaire that gauges how people feel about pet mechanics and monetization, which could potentially mean that the company's strategy are still subject to change. But if Fortnite footwear are any indication, sidekicks probably won't become cheaper in general — instead, there may be a broader range of prices to shop.

After all, while certain players are expressing anger at the game item costs, different players are feeling nothing but happiness for their competitive friends.