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A number of battle royale players are feeling disappointed, and this isn't because of the latest in-game events. The game's current limited-time event, that introduces a Springfield world, has also unveiled a fresh mechanic called pets. It's impossible to deny that these new companions are adorable. However, the attached costs have made numerous players stunned at the developer's efforts to monetize almost every part of the gaming experience.

Understanding Companion Pets?

Companions are basically like Pokémon, but with a few drawbacks. Players can give them a name, and they will accompany your character during a game. They are immortal, and players can pet them. Other gamers not in the player's party cannot view these pets — and displaying your companions is perhaps half the enjoyment of owning them. Sidekicks can be outfitted with costumes and gestures, however the controversy centers on their appearance. A pet's overall appearance is only able to be changed once, at which point that selection is final. You can select a companion's coat color, accent hues, iris tones, pattern, and their build size.

The Costly Customization System

If a player later choose that they'd like your sidekick to appear a bit altered, you cannot just further modify its appearance. Players must purchase another companion. And, sidekicks are not inexpensive. The majority of people are getting the banana-themed sidekick, since it's packaged in this season's battle pass. According to leaks, upcoming sidekicks may cost anywhere between 1,000 to 1,500 V-Bucks; to put that in perspective, 1,000 V-Bucks costs $8.99 and 2,800 V-Bucks are $22.99. You can rename a companion whenever you'd like.

Player Response and Parallels

Most pets have not been officially launched so far, so the pricing may well change. But even if the developer sets sidekicks cheaper, a lot of the anger stems from the fact that gamers might need to spend for a single kind of pet more than once. For some, the cost structure feels particularly egregious considering the game has previously added pets that ride about inside backpack accessories. Backpack companions lack a restriction on changes and can be seen by other participants in the game. Back bling buddies can't be named or use emotes, but opposing gamers are able to occasionally interact with them — which is better than remaining invisible completely.

The absence of unique functions and limited interaction choices have numerous gamers feeling underwhelmed. For instance, why is it not possible to you, for example, interact playfully with their fancy banana dog? Some note that companions sometimes fail to keep up with the player if a match is fast-paced, or mention that Peels takes up two spots in the reward system — which supports the idea that the company is pressuring players for revenue. Greedy is a word that's appearing often in these discussions, with some comparing pet pricing to similar aggressive monetization models in titles like EA Sports FC. It also doesn't help that some pets are expected to be more expensive than equivalent character skin counterparts.

"We urge you to avoid buy Sidekicks," urges a popular community post that advises other players to figuratively express disapproval by not spending.

"I know these pets are cute," the thread adds, "we realize they're enjoyable. I know we have all been looking forward to them. However the monetization focus being shown is disgusting and must not be rewarded."

The Broader Context of Virtual Spending

In recent years, Fortnite's events and partnerships have expanded in scope and ambition, yet the no-cost-to-start title continues to needs to generate income. As such, the sheer number of cosmetics users are able to now buy has become nearly overwhelming. Beyond standard items like back blings, gliders, pickaxes, and emotes, you could possibly spend cash on footwear, songs, instruments, Lego pieces, cars, wheels, vehicle drift colors, seasonal rewards, and a subscription. Sidekicks not only cost payment, and also bring in a host of fresh monetization options for the developer. It is likely, users will soon be able to spend for items like sidekick looks, costumes, gestures, and further interaction features.

Every one of such cosmetics are completely voluntary and unneeded to enjoy the game, but equipment can still affect your community interactions. Younger players, for instance, sometimes face bullying for using impressive sufficiently cool skins. A comparable situation also transpired when the company introduced brand-name kicks, which can range from 600 to 1,000 V-Bucks. That footwear cost model wasn't well received either, and a few fans promised that they'd avoid succumb to the pressure at the time. However ultimately, buying footwear grew commonplace. Today, sidekicks are further pushing the limits of what a player might be prepared to pay to stand out amongst the player base.

What's Next for Companion Pets?

Sidekicks are currently a fairly new addition, and they're part of a title that changes frequently. A few players are sharing that they have received a questionnaire that gauges how the community think about pet functionality and monetization, which could possibly indicate that the company's plans are still subject to change. Yet if Fortnite footwear are a sign, companions probably will not become cheaper overall — there will just be a broader range of prices to shop.

After all, where some players are raging at Fortnite item costs, others are feeling only happiness for their competitive friends.