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A number of battle royale players are experiencing disappointed, and it's not because of recent in-game happenings. The game's newest mini-season, which brings a Simpsons-themed world, has also unveiled a brand-new feature called pets. There's no ignore that the latest companions are adorable. But, the attached costs have made numerous players stunned at the developer's attempts to monetize nearly every aspect of the gaming experience.

What Are Sidekicks?

Sidekicks are basically like Pokémon, but having some drawbacks. You can give them a name, and these pets will accompany you during a match. These sidekicks are immortal, and you can pet them. Other players not in the player's squad are unable to view sidekicks — and showing off your companions is arguably a big part of the fun of owning them. Sidekicks are able to be outfitted with costumes and gestures, but the controversy centers on their appearance. Each pet's main design can only be changed one time, after which that selection is final. You can select a sidekick's fur shade, accent hues, eye colors, markings, and its body type.

A Costly Customization System

Should you later decide that they'd like their pet to appear slightly different, it's not possible to just continue to modify the look. You have to buy another sidekick. And, sidekicks aren't inexpensive. The majority of players are getting the banana-themed sidekick, since it is included in the current battle pass. According to leaks, upcoming pets may cost anywhere between 1,000 to 1,500 V-Bucks; for reference, 1,000 V-Bucks is priced at $8.99 and 2,800 V-Bucks cost $22.99. However, players can change the name of a companion as many times as they want.

Community Reaction and Comparisons

The majority of pets have not been officially launched so far, meaning the pricing could well change. But regardless of whether the developer sets sidekicks more affordable, much of the frustration comes from the fact that gamers might need to spend for a single type of pet more than once. To certain players, the pricing scheme feels especially egregious when the developer has already added pets that are carried about as part of backpack accessories. Back bling pets do not have a customization limitation and can be seen by other participants in the game. Back bling buddies cannot be given a name or perform emotes, but opposing gamers are able to occasionally engage with them — and this is more favorable than being unseen completely.

The absence of unique features and restricted interaction options have many players feeling underwhelmed. For instance, why is it not possible to a player, for example, play fetch with their stylish banana dog? A few point out that companions sometimes fail to keep up with the user if a match is fast-paced, or observe that the banana pet occupies two slots in the battle pass — and this reinforces the notion that the developer is pressuring the community for money. Profit-driven is a word that's coming up frequently in such discussions, with some comparing pet monetization to similar aggressive pricing schemes in games like EA Sports FC. Additionally, it adds to the issue that some pets are expected to be more expensive than their character skin versions.

"PLEASE do not purchasing Sidekicks," pleads a highly-voted community post that encourages other gamers to figuratively vote with their wallets.

"I know these pets are adorable," the thread continues, "I know they're enjoyable. I know everyone has been anticipating them. But the greed being shown is unacceptable and must not be supported."

The Bigger Context of Virtual Spending

Over the past few years, Fortnite's special occasions and collaborations have grown in scale and aspiration, but the free-to-play game still must earn revenue. As such, the total number of cosmetics players are able to now buy has grown almost overwhelming. In addition to basics like back blings, deployment tools, harvesting tools, and gestures, you could potentially use cash on footwear, music tracks, musical tools, building blocks, vehicles, wheels, custom paint jobs, battle passes, and a membership. Companion pets not only require payment, and also introduce a range of new revenue avenues for the company. It is likely, players will before long be in a position to pay for items like pet looks, costumes, emotes, and further interaction options.

Every one of these customization items are entirely optional and unneeded to have fun with the experience, but gear can nonetheless affect your social experience. Younger players, for example, at times face teasing for using flashy sufficiently cool outfits. A comparable situation previously occurred when the company introduced licensed kicks, which can range from 600 to 1,000 V-Bucks. That footwear cost model wasn't well received as well, and some fans vowed that they wouldn't fall prey to the temptation at the time. But in the end, purchasing footwear grew normalized. Today, sidekicks are further testing the boundaries of how much a gamer might be willing to spend to be distinctive amongst the player base.

What is Next for Companion Pets?

Pets are still a fairly new addition, and they exist a title that updates regularly. A few players are reporting that they have gotten a questionnaire that gauges how the community feel about pet functionality and pricing, and this might possibly mean that the company's strategy are still subject to change. But if Fortnite footwear are any indication, companions likely won't get cheaper overall — there will just be a broader selection of prices to choose from.

After all, where some players are expressing anger at the game item costs, different players are experiencing nothing but joy for their new competitive friends.