Fortnite Game Community Express Displeasure Over New Sidekick Pets and Perceived Monetization Tactics

Some Fortnite enthusiasts are experiencing disappointed, and it's not because of the latest in-game events. Fortnite's current limited-time event, that introduces a Springfield world, has also rolled out a brand-new mechanic known as sidekicks. It's impossible to deny that the latest companions are adorable. But, the associated prices have left numerous players shocked at the company's efforts to monetize almost every part of the game.

What Are Companion Pets?

Sidekicks are essentially similar to digital creatures, but having a few limitations. You can name them, and these pets will accompany your character during a game. These sidekicks are indestructible, and players can interact with them. Opposing players not in your squad are unable to view these pets — and showing off your companions is arguably a big part of the fun of having them. Pets are able to be customized with costumes and gestures, however the controversy centers on their appearance. Each sidekick's main appearance can only be altered one time, at which point that choice is permanent. You can choose a companion's fur shade, accent hues, iris tones, pattern, and its build size.

A Costly Personalization Mechanism

If a player afterward decide that you want their pet to appear slightly altered, you cannot simply further modify the look. Players must purchase a new companion. Furthermore, sidekicks aren't cheap. The majority of players are getting the Peels sidekick, since it's included in this season's battle pass. According to leaks, future pets could be priced at 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. You can rename a sidekick whenever you'd like.

Community Reaction and Parallels

Most sidekicks have not been officially released so far, so the pricing could easily be adjusted. Yet even if the developer sets sidekicks cheaper, a lot of the anger stems from the reality that gamers could need to spend for a single type of pet multiple times. For some, the cost structure feels particularly unfair when the developer has already introduced pets that ride around as part of back blings. Backpack pets do not have a customization limitation and are visible by fellow players in the game. Backpack buddies can't be given a name or use emotes, however opposing players can sometimes engage with them — and this is better than being invisible altogether.

Lack of special features and restricted engagement choices have numerous players experiencing underwhelmed. Why can't you, such as, interact playfully with their stylish fruit-themed pet? A few note that sidekicks sometimes fail to keep up with the user if a game is fast-paced, or mention that Peels takes up two slots in the battle pass — and this reinforces the notion that the company is pressuring the community for revenue. Profit-driven is a term that's appearing often in such conversations, with some comparing sidekick pricing to other intense pricing schemes in games like popular sports games. It also adds to the issue that some sidekicks are projected to be more expensive than equivalent character skin versions.

"We urge you to avoid buy Sidekicks," pleads one popular online thread that encourages fellow gamers to figuratively express disapproval by not spending.

"I know these pets are adorable," the thread continues, "I know they're fun. I know we have all been looking forward to them. But the greed on display is disgusting and should not be supported."

The Bigger Picture of In-Game Purchases

In recent years, the game's special occasions and collaborations have grown in scale and aspiration, but the free-to-play title still needs to generate revenue. As such, the sheer quantity of cosmetics players can currently buy has become almost excessive. In addition to basics like back accessories, gliders, harvesting tools, and emotes, you could possibly spend money on shoes, music tracks, musical tools, building blocks, vehicles, wheels, custom paint jobs, battle passes, and a membership. Companion pets not only cost payment, but also introduce a range of new monetization avenues for the developer. Presumably, players will soon be able to spend for items like pet appearances, costumes, emotes, and further interaction features.

All of these cosmetics are entirely optional and unneeded to have fun with the game, but equipment can still affect a player's community interactions. Younger players, for example, at times encounter bullying for not wearing impressive enough skins. A similar situation previously transpired when the company introduced brand-name kicks, which may be priced from 600 to 1,000 V-Bucks. The footwear pricing scheme was not well received as well, and some fans vowed that they wouldn't succumb to the pressure at the time. However in the end, purchasing shoes grew normalized. Now, companion pets are additionally pushing the limits of what a player could be prepared to spend to be distinctive amongst the crowd.

What's Next for Sidekicks?

Sidekicks are still a fairly new feature, and they're part of a game that updates frequently. A few fans are reporting that they've gotten a survey that assesses how people think about pet mechanics and monetization, which could potentially mean that the developer's strategy are still fluid. Yet if the game footwear are any indication, sidekicks probably will not become cheaper in general — there will just be a wider range of prices to shop.

Ultimately, where certain individuals are expressing anger at Fortnite shop prices, different players are experiencing nothing but joy for their battle royale pals.