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A number of battle royale enthusiasts are feeling let down, and it's not due to recent virtual events. Fortnite's current limited-time event, which brings a Springfield world, has also rolled out a brand-new mechanic known as pets. It's impossible to deny that the latest pets are adorable. But, the attached prices have left many players shocked at the developer's attempts to profit from nearly each aspect of the gaming experience.

What Are Sidekicks?

Companions are basically like Pokémon, though having some limitations. Players can name them, and these pets will accompany your character throughout a game. These sidekicks are indestructible, and players can interact with them. Opposing players not in your party cannot see sidekicks — and displaying one's animal friends is arguably half the enjoyment of having them. Pets are able to be outfitted with outfits and emotes, but the debate centers on their looks. A pet's overall appearance is only able to be altered one time, at which point that choice becomes final. Players can select a sidekick's fur shade, secondary colors, iris tones, pattern, and its build size.

The Expensive Personalization System

Should you later choose that you want their pet to appear a bit altered, it's not possible to simply continue to customize the look. Players must buy a new companion. Furthermore, these pets are not cheap. The majority of players are getting the banana-themed pet, because it is included with this season's reward track. Based on leaks, future pets could be priced at from 1,000 to 1,500 V-Bucks; to put that in perspective, 1,000 V-Bucks is priced at $8.99 and 2,800 V-Bucks are $22.99. However, players can change the name of a sidekick as many times as you'd like.

Community Response and Parallels

Most pets haven't been formally launched so far, so the cost could well be adjusted. Yet regardless of whether the developer sets companions cheaper, much of the anger comes from the fact that gamers might need to pay for a one type of sidekick more than once. To certain players, the pricing scheme feels especially egregious when the developer has already added companions that ride about as part of back blings. Backpack companions do not have a restriction on changes and can be seen by other participants in the game. Backpack buddies can't be given a name or perform gestures, however other gamers are able to sometimes interact with them — which is more favorable than remaining unseen completely.

The absence of special features and restricted engagement options have numerous players experiencing underwhelmed. Why can't a player, such as, interact playfully with their fancy fruit-themed pet? Some point out that sidekicks do not always stay close with the player if a match is fast-paced, or mention that Peels takes up two slots in the reward system — which reinforces the notion that the company is pressuring players for revenue. Greedy is a word that's appearing frequently in these conversations, with some comparing pet monetization to other intense pricing schemes in games like EA Sports FC. It also doesn't help that certain sidekicks are projected to be more expensive than their outfit counterparts.

"We urge you to do not purchasing Sidekicks," pleads a highly-voted community post that advises other gamers to figuratively vote with their wallets.

"I know they're adorable," the post adds, "I know they are enjoyable. We are aware everyone has been looking forward to them. But the monetization focus on display is unacceptable and must not be rewarded."

The Bigger Picture of Virtual Purchases

In recent years, Fortnite's events and collaborations have expanded in scale and aspiration, yet the no-cost-to-start game continues to must earn income. As such, the total quantity of items users are able to currently buy has grown almost excessive. Beyond basics like back accessories, gliders, harvesting tools, and emotes, you could possibly spend cash on shoes, music tracks, instruments, building blocks, vehicles, wheels, custom paint jobs, battle passes, and a subscription. Sidekicks do not just require money, and also introduce a host of fresh revenue options for the developer. It is likely, users will before long be able to pay for things like pet appearances, costumes, gestures, and additional interaction options.

Every one of these customization items are completely optional and unneeded to enjoy the game, but gear can nonetheless influence a player's community experience. Kids, for example, at times encounter bullying for not wearing flashy sufficiently cool skins. A similar issue also occurred when the company launched brand-name kicks, which can range from 600 to 1,000 V-Bucks. The footwear cost model was not well received either, and some fans vowed that they wouldn't fall prey to the pressure back then. But ultimately, purchasing shoes grew normalized. Today, companion pets are further testing the limits of how much a player might be prepared to pay to be distinctive within the crowd.

What is Ahead for Companion Pets?

Pets are currently a relatively new feature, and they exist a game that changes regularly. Some players are reporting that they have received a questionnaire that gauges how the community think about sidekick functionality and pricing, and this might potentially indicate that the company's strategy are remain fluid. Yet if the game footwear are any indication, sidekicks probably will not become cheaper overall — there will just be a broader range of costs to shop.

After all, where some players are raging at Fortnite item costs, others are feeling only happiness for their new battle royale pals.