🔗 Share this article

Some battle royale players are feeling disappointed, and this isn't due to recent virtual events. The game's newest limited-time event, which brings a Springfield map, also unveiled a brand-new mechanic known as sidekicks. There's no ignore that these new pets are adorable. But, the associated prices have made numerous players shocked at the company's attempts to monetize nearly every aspect of the gaming experience.

Understanding Sidekicks?

Companions are essentially similar to Pokémon, but having some drawbacks. Players can give them a name, and these pets will accompany your character throughout a game. These sidekicks are indestructible, and you can interact with them. Other players outside the player's party are unable to see sidekicks — and showing off one's companions is arguably a big part of the fun of owning them. Sidekicks can be outfitted with outfits and emotes, however the controversy centers on their appearance. Each pet's overall design can only be altered one time, at which point that selection becomes permanent. Players can select a companion's coat color, secondary colors, iris tones, pattern, and its body type.

A Costly Personalization Mechanism

Should you afterward decide that you want their sidekick to appear slightly different, you cannot just further customize its appearance. You have to purchase a new companion. Furthermore, sidekicks aren't cheap. The majority of players are obtaining the Peels sidekick, because it's packaged with the current reward track. According to unofficial reports, upcoming pets 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. You can rename a sidekick as many times as they want.

Community Reaction and Parallels

The majority of pets haven't been officially launched so far, so the pricing may well be adjusted. But regardless of whether the developer sets sidekicks more affordable, a lot of the anger comes from the fact that players could have to pay for a one type of sidekick multiple times. For some, the pricing scheme seems particularly egregious considering the developer has previously added pets that are carried about as part of backpack accessories. Backpack companions lack a customization limitation and can be seen by fellow participants in the match. Backpack pets cannot be named or use emotes, but other gamers are able to sometimes engage with them — which is better than remaining invisible altogether.

The absence of unique functions and restricted engagement choices have many gamers experiencing disappointed. Why can't you, such as, play fetch with your fancy banana dog? A few point out that sidekicks sometimes fail to stay close with the user if a game is fast-paced, or observe that Peels occupies two slots in the battle pass — and this reinforces the idea that the company is pressuring the community for revenue. Profit-driven is a word that's coming up frequently in such discussions, with a number of likening pet pricing to similar aggressive pricing schemes in titles like EA Sports FC. Additionally, it doesn't help that certain sidekicks are projected to be pricier than equivalent character skin counterparts.

"PLEASE avoid buy Sidekicks," pleads a highly-voted online post that advises other players to figuratively express disapproval by not spending.

"I know they're adorable," the thread continues, "I know they're enjoyable. We are aware everyone has been looking forward to them. However the greed on display is disgusting and should not be rewarded."

A Bigger Context of Virtual Spending

Over the past few years, Fortnite's special occasions and collaborations have expanded in scope and ambition, but the no-cost-to-start title still needs to earn revenue. Therefore, the total quantity of items users are able to currently purchase has grown nearly excessive. Beyond standard items like back accessories, gliders, harvesting tools, and emotes, players might potentially spend money on shoes, songs, musical tools, building blocks, vehicles, wheels, vehicle drift colors, battle passes, and a membership. Sidekicks do not just require money, but also bring in a host of new revenue avenues for the company. It is likely, players will before long be in a position to pay for items like pet appearances, costumes, gestures, and further engagement features.

All of such cosmetics are entirely voluntary and unneeded to have fun with the experience, yet equipment can still affect your social interactions. Younger players, for example, at times encounter bullying for using impressive sufficiently cool outfits. A comparable issue also occurred when the developer introduced licensed kicks, which can range from 600 to 1,000 V-Bucks. That footwear cost model wasn't popular as well, and some fans vowed that they'd avoid succumb to the pressure back then. But ultimately, purchasing shoes grew commonplace. Today, companion pets are additionally testing the limits of what a player might be prepared to spend to stand out amongst the crowd.

What's Next for Sidekicks?

Sidekicks are currently a relatively recent feature, and they're part of a game that updates frequently. Some fans are sharing that they have received a survey that gauges how people feel about pet functionality and pricing, and this might potentially indicate that the developer's strategy are still subject to change. But if the game footwear are a sign, companions probably will not become cheaper overall — there will just be a broader selection of prices to choose from.

Ultimately, while some players are expressing anger at Fortnite shop prices, others are experiencing only happiness for their competitive pals.