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A number of battle royale enthusiasts are feeling let down, and it's not due to the latest in-game happenings. Fortnite's newest mini-season, which brings a Springfield map, has also unveiled a brand-new mechanic known as pets. It's impossible to deny that the latest pets are adorable. But, the associated prices have left many fans stunned at this company's efforts to profit from almost each aspect of the game.

What Are Sidekicks?

Companions are basically like digital creatures, but with some limitations. You can name them, and these pets will accompany you during a game. They are indestructible, and you can interact with them. Opposing gamers outside the player's squad are unable to see these pets — and displaying your companions is perhaps a big part of the enjoyment of owning them. Pets can be outfitted with outfits and emotes, but the debate centers on their appearance. A sidekick's overall design is only able to be changed once, after which that choice becomes permanent. You can select a sidekick's coat color, secondary colors, eye colors, markings, and its body type.

The Costly Personalization System

Should a player afterward decide that you want your pet to appear a bit altered, you cannot just further modify its appearance. You have to buy another companion. And, sidekicks aren't cheap. Most people are obtaining the Peels pet, since it's included with the current reward track. According to unofficial reports, upcoming pets may cost 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 sidekicks have not been formally released yet, so the pricing may easily change. Yet even if the company sets sidekicks more affordable, much of the anger stems from the fact that gamers could have to spend for a one kind of pet multiple times. For some, the cost structure feels especially unfair when the developer has already added companions that ride about as part of backpack accessories. Backpack companions lack a restriction on changes and are visible by other players in the game. Back bling pets cannot be given a name or perform gestures, however opposing players can occasionally engage with them — which is more favorable than remaining invisible altogether.

The absence of unique features and restricted interaction options have numerous players experiencing underwhelmed. Why can't a player, for example, interact playfully with your stylish fruit-themed pet? Some note that companions sometimes fail to keep up with the user if a game is moving quickly, or observe that the banana pet occupies two slots in the reward system — which reinforces the notion that the developer is squeezing the community for money. Profit-driven is a term that's coming up often in these conversations, with a number of likening sidekick monetization to other intense pricing schemes in titles like EA Sports FC. It also doesn't help that some pets are expected to be pricier than equivalent character skin versions.

"PLEASE avoid buy Sidekicks," urges a popular community thread that advises fellow players to figuratively vote with their wallets.

"I know these pets are cute," the thread adds, "we realize they're enjoyable. We are aware everyone has been anticipating them. But the monetization focus on display is unacceptable and should not be rewarded."

A Broader Picture of Virtual Purchases

In recent years, Fortnite's special occasions and partnerships have grown in scale and aspiration, but the free-to-play game still must earn revenue. As such, the total number of items players can currently buy has grown nearly excessive. In addition to standard items like back accessories, gliders, harvesting tools, and emotes, you could potentially use money on footwear, songs, musical tools, building blocks, vehicles, tires, custom paint jobs, seasonal rewards, and a membership. Sidekicks do not just require payment, and also introduce a host of new revenue avenues for the company. It is likely, users will soon be able to spend for items like sidekick looks, outfits, gestures, and further engagement features.

All of these cosmetics are completely optional and unneeded to have fun with the experience, but gear can nonetheless influence your community experience. Kids, for example, sometimes face bullying for using impressive enough skins. A comparable situation previously transpired when the developer introduced licensed shoes, which can range from 600 to 1,000 V-Bucks. The footwear pricing scheme wasn't popular as well, and some fans vowed that they wouldn't fall prey to the temptation at the time. But ultimately, buying shoes became normalized. Now, companion pets are further testing the boundaries of what a gamer might be prepared to pay to stand out within the player base.

What is Ahead for Sidekicks?

Pets are currently a relatively recent addition, and they exist a title that updates regularly. A few fans are reporting that they have received a survey that assesses how people think about pet mechanics and monetization, and this might potentially mean that the company's plans are still subject to change. But if the game shoes are any indication, companions likely won't get cheaper in general — instead, there may be a broader range of prices to choose from.

Ultimately, while certain players are raging at Fortnite shop prices, others are feeling nothing but happiness for their battle royale friends.