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Some Fortnite enthusiasts are feeling disappointed, and it's not due to the latest virtual happenings. Fortnite's newest mini-season, which introduces a Springfield world, has also unveiled a brand-new feature called pets. It's impossible to deny that the new companions are adorable. However, the associated costs have left numerous fans shocked at the developer's attempts to monetize almost every aspect of the game.

What Are Sidekicks?

Companions are essentially similar to digital creatures, though having a few drawbacks. You can give them a name, and they will accompany your character throughout a match. They are indestructible, and you can pet them. Other gamers outside your party are unable to see these pets — and displaying one's companions is arguably half the fun of owning them. Sidekicks can be outfitted with costumes and emotes, however the controversy revolves around their appearance. A sidekick's overall design can only be altered one time, after which that selection is permanent. You can select a sidekick's fur shade, accent hues, eye colors, pattern, and its body type.

The Expensive Customization Mechanism

If a player later choose that they'd like their pet to look slightly altered, it's not possible to simply further customize its appearance. You have to buy a new companion. And, these pets are not inexpensive. The majority of people are obtaining the Peels pet, because it's included in this season's reward track. According to leaks, future sidekicks may be priced at anywhere between 1,000 to 1,500 V-Bucks; for reference, 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.

Player Response and Comparisons

The majority of pets haven't been officially released so far, meaning the pricing may well be adjusted. But regardless of whether the company sets sidekicks more affordable, much of the anger comes from the reality that gamers might need to pay for a one type of pet more than once. For some, the pricing scheme feels especially unfair when the game has previously added companions that ride around as part of back blings. Back bling companions do not have a customization limitation and are visible by other players in the game. Back bling buddies can't be named or perform emotes, however opposing gamers can sometimes interact with them — which is more favorable than being unseen altogether.

The absence of special features and restricted engagement options have many players experiencing disappointed. Why can't you, for example, interact playfully with your fancy fruit-themed pet? Some note that sidekicks do not always stay close with the user if a match is moving quickly, or observe that the banana pet occupies two spots in the reward system — and this supports the notion that the company is pressuring the community for money. Greedy is a term that's appearing often in these discussions, with a number of likening pet pricing to other intense pricing schemes in titles like popular sports games. Additionally, it doesn't help that some pets are projected to be more expensive than equivalent character skin counterparts.

"PLEASE do not purchasing Sidekicks," urges one popular online post that encourages other players to figuratively vote with their wallets.

"We understand these pets are adorable," the thread adds, "I know they're enjoyable. We are aware everyone has been anticipating them. But the greed being shown is unacceptable and should not be supported."

The Broader Context of Virtual Purchases

In recent years, Fortnite's special occasions and collaborations have grown in scope and ambition, but the no-cost-to-start game still must earn income. Therefore, the total number of items users can currently buy has become almost excessive. In addition to standard items like back blings, deployment tools, pickaxes, and emotes, players might possibly use money on footwear, songs, musical tools, building blocks, vehicles, tires, custom paint jobs, battle passes, and a membership. Companion pets not only cost money, but also bring in a range of new monetization options for the company. Presumably, users will soon be in a position to spend for things like pet appearances, costumes, gestures, and additional interaction options.

All of such customization items are completely optional and not necessary to enjoy the experience, yet gear can nonetheless affect a player's social experience. Kids, for instance, sometimes encounter teasing for not wearing impressive enough outfits. A comparable issue also transpired when the company introduced licensed shoes, which can range from 600 to 1,000 V-Bucks. The footwear pricing scheme wasn't popular either, and a few players vowed that they wouldn't succumb to the pressure at the time. However in the end, purchasing footwear grew commonplace. Today, companion pets are additionally testing the boundaries of how much a gamer could be prepared to spend to stand out within the crowd.

What's Ahead for Sidekicks?

Pets are currently a fairly new feature, and they exist a title that updates frequently. A few players are sharing that they have received a survey that assesses how the community feel about pet mechanics and pricing, and this might possibly mean that the developer's plans are still subject to change. But if the game footwear are any indication, sidekicks probably won't become more affordable in general — instead, there may be a wider selection of costs to shop.

Ultimately, while certain players are raging at Fortnite item costs, different players are feeling only happiness for their competitive friends.