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A number of battle royale players are feeling let down, and this isn't due to the latest in-game happenings. The game's current mini-season, which introduces a Simpsons-themed world, has also rolled out a brand-new feature called sidekicks. It's impossible to ignore that the new companions are adorable. But, the associated costs have made numerous players shocked at this developer's attempts to profit from nearly each aspect of the game.

Understanding Sidekicks?

Companions are essentially similar to digital creatures, but with a few drawbacks. Players can give them a name, and these pets will follow your character throughout a match. These sidekicks are immortal, and players can pet them. Opposing players not in the player's squad are unable to view sidekicks — and displaying your companions is arguably half the enjoyment of owning them. Sidekicks can be outfitted with outfits and gestures, but the debate centers on their appearance. Each pet's overall design is only able to be changed once, at which point that selection becomes permanent. You can select a companion's coat color, accent hues, iris tones, markings, and their build size.

The Costly Personalization Mechanism

Should a player afterward choose that they'd like their sidekick to look a bit altered, it's not possible to simply continue to modify the appearance. You have to buy a new sidekick. Furthermore, these pets are not inexpensive. Most players are obtaining the banana-themed pet, since it's included in the current battle pass. Based on unofficial reports, upcoming 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 companion whenever they want.

Player Response and Parallels

Most pets have not been formally launched yet, so the cost could easily change. Yet even if the company makes sidekicks more affordable, much of the frustration comes from the reality that players could have to pay for a single kind of pet more than once. To certain players, the pricing scheme seems particularly egregious considering the game has already introduced companions that ride around as part of back blings. Backpack companions lack a customization limitation and are visible by other players in the match. Backpack pets cannot be given a name or use emotes, but other players can sometimes engage with them — and this is more favorable than remaining invisible altogether.

The absence of unique features and limited interaction options have numerous gamers feeling disappointed. For instance, why is it not possible to a player, such as, interact playfully with your fancy banana dog? Some note that companions sometimes fail to keep up with the player if a game is moving quickly, or observe that the banana pet occupies two slots in the battle pass — which reinforces the idea that the company is pressuring players for money. Profit-driven is a word that's appearing often in such conversations, with a number of likening sidekick pricing to similar aggressive monetization models in games like popular sports games. It also adds to the issue that some sidekicks are projected to be more expensive than equivalent outfit versions.

"We urge you to avoid buy Companion Pets," pleads one highly-voted online post that encourages fellow gamers to proverbially express disapproval by not spending.

"We understand these pets are cute," the post continues, "we realize they're enjoyable. We are aware we have all been anticipating them. But the greed on display is disgusting and must not be rewarded."

The Bigger Picture of In-Game Purchases

Over the past few years, Fortnite's events and partnerships have grown in scale and ambition, but the no-cost-to-start title continues to needs to generate income. As such, the sheer number of items users can now buy has grown nearly overwhelming. In addition to basics like back accessories, gliders, pickaxes, and emotes, players might potentially use cash on shoes, songs, musical tools, Lego pieces, vehicles, tires, custom paint jobs, seasonal rewards, and a subscription. Companion pets not only require money, and also bring in a range of fresh monetization options for the company. Presumably, players will before long be able to pay for items like sidekick appearances, costumes, gestures, and additional engagement features.

All of such cosmetics are entirely voluntary and not necessary to have fun with the game, but equipment can nonetheless affect your social experience. Kids, for example, at times encounter teasing for using flashy sufficiently cool outfits. A comparable situation previously occurred when the developer launched licensed shoes, which can range from 600 to 1,000 V-Bucks. That footwear pricing scheme wasn't well received as well, and some players promised that they'd avoid fall prey to the temptation back then. But ultimately, buying footwear became commonplace. Now, companion pets are further testing the boundaries of how much a gamer might be prepared to spend to be distinctive within the player base.

What's Ahead for Sidekicks?

Pets are still a fairly new addition, and they exist a game that updates regularly. A few players are sharing that they've received a questionnaire that gauges how the community think about sidekick functionality and pricing, which could possibly mean that the company's strategy are still subject to change. Yet if the game footwear are any indication, companions probably will not get cheaper in general — instead, there may be a broader selection of prices to choose from.

Ultimately, while certain individuals are raging at the game shop prices, others are experiencing nothing but happiness for their new battle royale friends.