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Some Fortnite enthusiasts are experiencing disappointed, and this isn't due to the latest virtual events. Fortnite's current mini-season, that brings a Springfield world, has also rolled out a fresh mechanic called pets. There's no deny that the new companions are adorable. But, the associated prices have left numerous fans shocked at the company's attempts to profit from nearly every aspect of the gaming experience.

What Are Sidekicks?

Sidekicks are essentially like Pokémon, though having some limitations. Players can name them, and these pets will accompany your character during a game. They are indestructible, and players can interact with them. Other gamers outside the player's squad cannot view sidekicks — and showing off one's companions is perhaps a big part of the fun of having them. Pets are able to be outfitted with costumes and gestures, but the debate revolves around their looks. Each sidekick's main design is only able to be altered one time, at which point that selection is final. Players can choose a sidekick's fur shade, secondary colors, eye colors, pattern, and their build size.

The Expensive Personalization Mechanism

Should a player afterward decide that they'd like their sidekick to look slightly different, you cannot just further modify the look. You have to buy another companion. And, these pets aren't inexpensive. Most players are getting the Peels sidekick, because it is included in this season's reward track. According to leaks, future sidekicks may be priced at 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. You can rename a companion whenever you'd like.

Player Response and Parallels

The majority of pets have not been formally launched yet, so the cost may well change. But regardless of whether the company makes companions cheaper, a lot of the frustration comes from the reality that gamers might need to pay for a one type of pet more than once. To certain players, the pricing scheme seems particularly unfair considering the game has previously introduced pets that are carried around as part of back blings. Backpack pets lack a restriction on changes and can be seen by other players in the game. Back bling pets cannot be given a name or use emotes, but other players are able to occasionally interact with them — and this is better than remaining invisible altogether.

Lack of unique features and limited interaction choices have many gamers experiencing underwhelmed. Why can't you, for example, interact playfully with your stylish fruit-themed pet? Some point out that companions sometimes fail to stay close with the player if a game is moving quickly, or mention that Peels takes up two spots in the battle pass — and this reinforces the idea that the company is pressuring players for revenue. Profit-driven is a term that's appearing frequently in these discussions, with a number of likening pet pricing to similar intense pricing schemes in titles like EA Sports FC. Additionally, it adds to the issue that certain sidekicks are expected to be more expensive than equivalent character skin counterparts.

"PLEASE avoid buy Sidekicks," pleads one highly-voted online post that encourages fellow players to proverbially express disapproval by not spending.

"We understand they're cute," the post adds, "I know they're enjoyable. We are aware we have all been looking forward to them. But the greed being shown is unacceptable and should not be rewarded."

A Broader Picture of Virtual Purchases

In recent years, the game's events and collaborations have expanded in scale and ambition, yet the free-to-play game continues to must generate revenue. Therefore, the total quantity of cosmetics users are able to now buy has become almost overwhelming. In addition to standard items like back blings, deployment tools, harvesting tools, and gestures, you could potentially use cash on shoes, music tracks, musical tools, Lego pieces, cars, wheels, vehicle drift colors, battle passes, and a membership. Companion pets not only require money, and also bring in a range of new monetization options for the developer. It is likely, players will before long be able to pay for items like sidekick looks, outfits, gestures, and additional interaction options.

Every one of such customization items are entirely voluntary and unneeded to have fun with the experience, but gear can still influence your community interactions. Younger players, for instance, at times encounter bullying for using impressive enough outfits. A comparable issue also transpired when the company launched licensed shoes, which may be priced from 600 to 1,000 V-Bucks. That shoe pricing scheme wasn't popular as well, and a few players promised that they'd avoid succumb to the temptation at the time. But ultimately, purchasing footwear grew commonplace. Now, sidekicks are further pushing the boundaries of what a gamer might be prepared to pay to be distinctive within the player base.

What is Ahead for Sidekicks?

Sidekicks are still a relatively new feature, and they exist a game that changes frequently. Some players are sharing that they have received a survey that gauges how the community think about sidekick mechanics and monetization, which could possibly indicate that the developer's strategy are still fluid. Yet if the game shoes are a sign, companions likely won't get more affordable overall — instead, there may be a broader selection of costs to choose from.

After all, while some individuals are raging at the game shop prices, different players are experiencing nothing but joy for their new competitive pals.