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A number of battle royale players are feeling disappointed, and this isn't due to recent in-game events. Fortnite's newest limited-time event, which brings a Simpsons-themed map, also unveiled a fresh feature known as sidekicks. There's no deny that the new pets are adorable. However, the attached costs have left numerous players stunned at the developer's efforts to profit from almost each aspect of the gaming experience.

What Are Sidekicks?

Sidekicks are basically like Pokémon, though having a few limitations. You can give them a name, and they will accompany your character throughout a game. They are immortal, and you can pet them. Other players not in your party are unable to view these pets — and displaying your animal friends is arguably half the fun of having them. Sidekicks can be outfitted with outfits and emotes, but the controversy centers on their appearance. Each sidekick's overall appearance can only be altered one time, at which point that choice becomes final. Players can choose a sidekick's fur shade, secondary colors, eye colors, pattern, and their body type.

A Expensive Customization Mechanism

If a player afterward choose that they'd like their pet to appear a bit altered, it's not possible to simply further customize the appearance. You have to buy another companion. And, sidekicks are not cheap. Most players are obtaining the Peels pet, because it is packaged in this season's reward track. Based on unofficial reports, future sidekicks may 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 are $22.99. You can rename a sidekick as many times as you'd like.

Player Response and Comparisons

The majority of pets have not been officially launched so far, so the pricing could well change. Yet even if the developer makes sidekicks cheaper, much of the anger comes from the fact that players might have to pay for a single type of pet more than once. To certain players, the cost structure seems particularly egregious when the game has previously introduced pets that ride about as part of backpack accessories. Back bling companions lack a restriction on changes and can be seen by fellow participants in the game. Back bling buddies cannot be given a name or use emotes, however opposing players can sometimes engage with them — and this is better than being invisible completely.

Lack of special features and limited engagement choices have numerous gamers feeling underwhelmed. Why can't a player, such as, play fetch with your fancy fruit-themed pet? A few point out that companions do not always keep up with the player if a match is moving quickly, or observe that Peels occupies two slots in the reward system — and this supports the idea that the company is pressuring players for revenue. Profit-driven is a term that's coming up often in such conversations, with a number of likening pet pricing to other intense pricing schemes in titles like EA Sports FC. It also doesn't help that certain pets are projected to be pricier than their character skin counterparts.

"We urge you to do not buy Sidekicks," urges one popular online post that encourages other gamers to proverbially express disapproval by not spending.

"We understand they're adorable," the post adds, "we realize they are fun. We are aware everyone has been looking forward to them. But the monetization focus being shown is unacceptable and should not be rewarded."

The Bigger Context of In-Game Spending

Over the past few years, Fortnite's special occasions and collaborations have expanded in scope and ambition, but the free-to-play title still needs to generate income. As such, the sheer number of items users can now purchase has become nearly overwhelming. In addition to basics like back blings, gliders, harvesting tools, and gestures, players might possibly spend money on shoes, music tracks, instruments, Lego pieces, cars, tires, custom paint jobs, seasonal rewards, and a subscription. Sidekicks not only require payment, but also bring in a host of new revenue options for the company. It is likely, users will before long be in a position to pay for items like sidekick looks, outfits, emotes, and further engagement features.

Every one of these customization items are entirely optional and not necessary to have fun with the experience, yet equipment can still affect your community experience. Younger players, for example, at times encounter bullying for not wearing flashy sufficiently cool skins. A comparable issue previously occurred when the company introduced brand-name shoes, which can range from 600 to 1,000 V-Bucks. The shoe cost model wasn't popular as well, and some players vowed that they'd avoid succumb to the temptation at the time. However in the end, buying shoes grew normalized. Today, companion pets are further testing the boundaries of what a player might be prepared to pay to be distinctive amongst the player base.

What is Next for Companion Pets?

Sidekicks are still a fairly new addition, and they're part of a title that updates regularly. A few fans are reporting that they've received a questionnaire that assesses how people feel about pet functionality and pricing, and this might possibly indicate that the developer's plans are remain fluid. Yet if the game footwear are any indication, companions probably won't get more affordable overall — instead, there may be a broader selection of prices to shop.

After all, where certain individuals are raging at Fortnite shop prices, different players are feeling nothing but happiness for their new competitive pals.