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Some battle royale enthusiasts are feeling let down, and this isn't due to the latest in-game happenings. Fortnite's current limited-time event, which brings a Simpsons-themed world, has also unveiled a fresh feature called pets. There's no deny that these new companions are adorable. But, the associated prices have left numerous fans stunned at the developer's efforts to profit from nearly each part of the game.

What Are Sidekicks?

Sidekicks are basically similar to digital creatures, but with a few drawbacks. Players can give them a name, and these pets will accompany your character during a match. They are immortal, and you can pet them. Opposing players outside the player's squad cannot see sidekicks — and showing off your animal friends is perhaps half the enjoyment of owning them. Pets can be outfitted with outfits and gestures, but the controversy centers on their looks. Each pet's overall design can only be altered once, at which point that choice becomes final. You can select a sidekick's coat color, secondary colors, iris tones, markings, and their build size.

A Costly Customization System

If a player later choose that you want your sidekick to look slightly different, you cannot just continue to modify the appearance. Players must buy another sidekick. Furthermore, sidekicks are not inexpensive. Most people are obtaining the banana-themed pet, because it is included in the current reward track. Based on leaks, upcoming pets may cost from 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. You can rename a companion whenever you'd like.

Community Response and Comparisons

The majority of pets haven't been formally released yet, so the cost may well be adjusted. But regardless of whether the developer makes sidekicks cheaper, a lot of the frustration comes from the fact that gamers might need to spend for a single type of pet multiple times. For some, the cost structure feels particularly egregious when the game has already added companions that are carried about as part of backpack accessories. Back bling companions do not have a restriction on changes and can be seen by fellow players in the match. Backpack pets cannot be given a name or perform gestures, but opposing players are able to sometimes interact with them — which is more favorable than being invisible altogether.

The absence of special functions and limited interaction options have many players experiencing underwhelmed. For instance, why is it not possible to a player, for example, play fetch with your fancy fruit-themed pet? A few note that companions do not always stay close with the player if a match is moving quickly, or observe that the banana pet takes up two spots in the battle pass — which supports the notion that the developer is pressuring the community for revenue. Profit-driven is a word that's appearing often in these discussions, with some comparing sidekick monetization to other aggressive monetization models in titles like EA Sports FC. Additionally, it doesn't help that certain pets are expected to be more expensive than equivalent character skin counterparts.

"PLEASE do not buy Sidekicks," urges a highly-voted online thread that advises other gamers to figuratively vote with their wallets.

"I know these pets are adorable," the thread adds, "I know they are fun. I know we have all been anticipating them. However the greed being shown is unacceptable and must not be rewarded."

A Bigger Context of Virtual Spending

Over the past few years, Fortnite's events and collaborations have expanded in scope and ambition, yet the no-cost-to-start title still needs to earn revenue. As such, the sheer number of items players are able to currently purchase has grown almost excessive. In addition to standard items like back blings, deployment tools, pickaxes, and gestures, players might possibly spend money on shoes, songs, musical tools, building blocks, cars, wheels, custom paint jobs, battle passes, and a subscription. Companion pets not only cost payment, and also introduce a host of fresh revenue avenues for the company. Presumably, players will soon be in a position to spend for things like sidekick appearances, outfits, gestures, and further engagement options.

Every one of such customization items are completely voluntary and not necessary to enjoy the experience, yet gear can nonetheless influence a player's community experience. Younger players, for instance, sometimes face teasing for not wearing flashy sufficiently cool outfits. A similar situation also occurred when the developer introduced brand-name shoes, which can range from 600 to 1,000 V-Bucks. That footwear pricing scheme was not well received as well, and some players promised that they wouldn't fall prey to the pressure back then. But ultimately, purchasing footwear became normalized. Now, companion pets are further testing the limits of how much a gamer might be willing to spend to stand out within the crowd.

What is Ahead for Sidekicks?

Pets are currently a fairly recent addition, and they're part of a title that updates regularly. A few fans are sharing that they've received a questionnaire that assesses how the community feel about sidekick functionality and monetization, and this might potentially indicate that the company's strategy are remain fluid. But if Fortnite footwear are any indication, companions probably won't become more affordable overall — instead, there may be a wider selection of costs to shop.

Ultimately, where some individuals are raging at Fortnite shop prices, different players are experiencing nothing but happiness for their new battle royale pals.