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Some battle royale enthusiasts are feeling let down, and it's not because of the latest virtual happenings. Fortnite's current limited-time event, that brings a Simpsons-themed map, has also unveiled a brand-new feature known as pets. It's impossible to ignore that the latest companions are cute. However, the attached prices have left many fans stunned at the developer's efforts to monetize nearly every part of the game.

Understanding Sidekicks?

Companions are essentially like Pokémon, but having some drawbacks. You can give them a name, and they will follow your character throughout a game. They are indestructible, and players can pet them. Opposing gamers outside your squad cannot see sidekicks — and displaying one's animal friends is perhaps a big part of the enjoyment of owning them. Sidekicks can be outfitted with outfits and gestures, however the controversy centers on their looks. A pet's overall appearance can only be changed once, after which that selection is final. Players can choose a sidekick's coat color, secondary colors, iris tones, markings, and their body type.

A Costly Customization System

If a player afterward decide that you want your pet to look a bit altered, you cannot simply further customize the appearance. Players must purchase a new companion. And, these pets are not inexpensive. The majority of people are getting the Peels sidekick, since it is included with the current battle pass. According to leaks, upcoming pets 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 cost $22.99. However, players can rename a companion as many times as you'd like.

Community Reaction and Comparisons

The majority of pets have not been officially released yet, so the cost could easily be adjusted. But even if the developer sets sidekicks cheaper, much of the anger comes from the reality that players might have to pay for a single kind of pet more than once. For some, the cost structure seems particularly egregious considering the game has already added companions that are carried around inside back blings. Back bling pets lack a restriction on changes and can be seen by fellow players in the game. Back bling pets cannot be given a name or perform gestures, but other players can sometimes engage with them — which is more favorable than remaining invisible completely.

The absence of unique features and restricted engagement choices have numerous gamers feeling underwhelmed. Why can't you, for example, play fetch with their fancy banana dog? Some note that companions sometimes fail to keep up with the user if a game is moving quickly, or mention that Peels occupies two spots in the reward system — and this supports the notion that the company is squeezing players for revenue. Greedy is a term that's coming up often in such discussions, with some likening pet monetization to similar aggressive pricing schemes in titles like EA Sports FC. Additionally, it doesn't help that certain pets are projected to be pricier than their outfit versions.

"PLEASE avoid purchasing Sidekicks," urges a popular community post that advises other gamers to proverbially vote with their wallets.

"We understand these pets are adorable," the thread continues, "we realize they are fun. I know we have all been looking forward to them. However the monetization focus being shown is disgusting and must not be supported."

The Bigger Context of In-Game Purchases

Over the past few years, the game's events and partnerships have grown in scale and ambition, but the no-cost-to-start game still needs to generate revenue. Therefore, the sheer number of items players are able to currently buy has grown nearly excessive. In addition to standard items like back blings, gliders, pickaxes, and gestures, players might possibly use money on footwear, songs, musical tools, Lego pieces, cars, wheels, vehicle drift colors, battle passes, and a membership. Sidekicks do not just require money, but also bring in a host of fresh monetization avenues for the developer. Presumably, users will before long be able to pay for items like pet appearances, outfits, gestures, and further engagement features.

Every one of these customization items are entirely optional and not necessary to enjoy the game, but equipment can still influence a player's social interactions. Younger players, for instance, at times encounter teasing for not wearing impressive sufficiently cool skins. A comparable issue previously transpired when the developer introduced licensed kicks, which may be priced from 600 to 1,000 V-Bucks. The shoe cost model wasn't well received either, and a few fans promised that they wouldn't succumb to the pressure back then. But in the end, buying shoes became commonplace. Today, companion pets are additionally testing the boundaries of how much a gamer might be prepared to pay to be distinctive within the player base.

What is Next for Sidekicks?

Pets are still a relatively new addition, and they exist a title that changes frequently. Some players are sharing that they have gotten a survey that assesses how the community feel about pet functionality and pricing, which could possibly mean that the company's plans are still fluid. But if Fortnite shoes are any indication, sidekicks probably will not get cheaper overall — there will just be a broader selection of prices to choose from.

Ultimately, where certain individuals are raging at the game shop prices, others are feeling only joy for their competitive friends.