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A number of battle royale players are experiencing let down, and it's not because of recent in-game happenings. Fortnite's current mini-season, that brings a Simpsons-themed map, also rolled out a brand-new mechanic called sidekicks. It's impossible to deny that the latest pets are cute. But, the attached costs have made many players shocked at this company's attempts to monetize almost every part of the gaming experience.

What Are Companion Pets?

Sidekicks are basically similar to digital creatures, though with a few limitations. You can give them a name, and they will follow you throughout a match. They are immortal, and players can interact with them. Other gamers not in your squad cannot see sidekicks — and showing off one's animal friends is arguably half the enjoyment of having them. Sidekicks can be outfitted with costumes and emotes, but the debate revolves around their appearance. A pet's overall appearance can only be changed once, at which point that choice becomes permanent. Players can select a sidekick's fur shade, secondary colors, iris tones, pattern, and their build size.

A Costly Personalization Mechanism

Should you afterward decide that you want their sidekick to appear a bit altered, it's not possible to just continue to modify the look. You have to buy a new sidekick. And, these pets are not cheap. The majority of people are obtaining the Peels pet, because it's packaged in this season's battle pass. Based on leaks, upcoming pets could cost 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 whenever you'd like.

Player Response and Parallels

The majority of sidekicks haven't been officially launched yet, meaning the pricing may easily be adjusted. But regardless of whether the developer makes sidekicks more affordable, much of the frustration comes from the reality that gamers could have to spend for a single kind of sidekick multiple times. To certain players, the cost structure feels especially egregious considering the game has previously introduced pets that are carried around as part of back blings. Backpack pets lack a customization limitation and can be seen by other players in the match. Back bling buddies can't be given a name or perform emotes, but opposing gamers are able to occasionally engage with them — and this is more favorable than being unseen altogether.

Lack of unique features and limited interaction options have many players experiencing underwhelmed. Why can't you, for example, interact playfully with your fancy banana dog? Some point out that companions sometimes fail to stay close with the user if a game is fast-paced, or mention that the banana pet occupies two spots in the reward system — and this supports the idea that the company is squeezing the community for revenue. Greedy is a word that's appearing often in such conversations, with some likening sidekick monetization to similar aggressive pricing schemes in games like EA Sports FC. Additionally, it adds to the issue that some pets are expected to be more expensive than their character skin counterparts.

"PLEASE do not buy Sidekicks," pleads a highly-voted community post that advises other players to proverbially express disapproval by not spending.

"I know these pets are adorable," the post adds, "we realize they are enjoyable. We are aware we have all been anticipating them. However the monetization focus being shown is disgusting and should not be supported."

A Bigger Context of Virtual Purchases

Over the past few years, Fortnite's special occasions and partnerships have expanded in scale and ambition, yet the free-to-play title continues to needs to earn income. Therefore, the sheer number of cosmetics users are able to now purchase has become almost overwhelming. In addition to standard items like back accessories, gliders, pickaxes, and gestures, players might possibly use cash on footwear, music tracks, musical tools, Lego pieces, vehicles, wheels, vehicle drift colors, battle passes, and a subscription. Companion pets do not just cost payment, and also introduce a range of new monetization options for the developer. It is likely, users will soon be in a position to spend for items like pet looks, costumes, gestures, and additional engagement features.

All of such cosmetics are completely optional and unneeded to have fun with the game, yet equipment can still influence a player's social experience. Younger players, for example, at times face teasing for using flashy enough outfits. A similar issue previously occurred when the developer launched licensed shoes, which may be priced from 600 to 1,000 V-Bucks. That footwear cost model wasn't well received as well, and some fans vowed that they wouldn't succumb to the temptation back then. But in the end, buying footwear grew normalized. Today, sidekicks are further pushing the boundaries of what a gamer might be willing to pay to stand out amongst the crowd.

What is Next for Sidekicks?

Sidekicks are still a relatively new feature, and they exist a title that changes frequently. Some fans are reporting that they have gotten a questionnaire that gauges how the community feel about pet functionality and monetization, and this might possibly mean that the company's plans are remain subject to change. But if the game shoes are any indication, companions likely will not get cheaper in general — there will just be a wider range of costs to choose from.

Ultimately, where some players are raging at the game shop prices, different players are feeling only joy for their new battle royale friends.