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Some Fortnite enthusiasts are feeling disappointed, and it's not due to recent in-game happenings. Fortnite's current mini-season, that introduces a Simpsons-themed map, also unveiled a fresh mechanic called pets. It's impossible to ignore that these new pets are adorable. But, the attached prices have left numerous fans stunned at this company's efforts to monetize nearly each part of the game.

Understanding Sidekicks?

Companions are basically like Pokémon, but having a few limitations. You can give them a name, and these pets will follow you throughout a match. These sidekicks are indestructible, and you can pet them. Other players outside your party cannot view sidekicks — and showing off your animal friends is arguably a big part of the fun of owning them. Pets can be outfitted with outfits and gestures, however the debate centers on their appearance. A sidekick's main design can only be changed one time, after which that selection is final. Players can choose a companion's coat color, secondary colors, iris tones, pattern, and their body type.

A Expensive Customization Mechanism

If a player afterward decide that you want your pet to appear slightly altered, it's not possible to simply further customize its look. Players must buy another companion. And, these pets aren't cheap. The majority of players are getting the Peels pet, because it's packaged with the current battle pass. According to leaks, upcoming pets could cost 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. However, players can rename a sidekick whenever they want.

Community Reaction and Parallels

Most sidekicks have not been officially released so far, meaning the cost could easily change. Yet even if the company sets companions cheaper, a lot of the frustration comes from the reality that players might need to pay for a one kind of pet multiple times. For some, the cost structure feels especially egregious considering the developer has previously introduced pets that are carried around inside backpack accessories. Backpack pets lack a customization limitation and can be seen by other players in the game. Backpack buddies can't be named or use gestures, but opposing players are able to sometimes interact with them — which is better than remaining unseen altogether.

Lack of special features and restricted interaction options have numerous gamers feeling disappointed. For instance, why is it not possible to you, such as, interact playfully with your stylish fruit-themed pet? A few note that sidekicks do not always keep up with the player if a game is moving quickly, or observe that the banana pet occupies two spots in the reward system — and this supports the idea that the company is squeezing players for money. Profit-driven is a word that's coming up often in these conversations, with a number of likening sidekick monetization to similar intense pricing schemes in titles like EA Sports FC. Additionally, it doesn't help that some sidekicks are expected to be pricier than their outfit versions.

"We urge you to avoid buy Sidekicks," urges a highly-voted online post that advises other gamers to figuratively vote with their wallets.

"We understand these pets are cute," the thread continues, "I know they are fun. I know everyone has been looking forward to them. However the greed being shown is unacceptable and should not be rewarded."

The Bigger Context of In-Game Purchases

In recent years, the game's events and collaborations have expanded in scale and aspiration, yet the no-cost-to-start title still must earn revenue. As such, the sheer quantity of items players are able to now buy has become nearly excessive. In addition to standard items like back blings, deployment tools, pickaxes, and emotes, players might potentially use cash on shoes, music tracks, instruments, building blocks, cars, tires, vehicle drift colors, seasonal rewards, and a subscription. Companion pets do not just require money, but also bring in a host of new monetization avenues for the company. It is likely, users will before long be in a position to spend for items like sidekick looks, costumes, gestures, and further engagement features.

Every one of such cosmetics are entirely voluntary and unneeded to enjoy the game, yet gear can still affect your social experience. Younger players, for example, at times encounter bullying for using impressive enough skins. A similar issue also occurred when the company launched licensed shoes, which can range from 600 to 1,000 V-Bucks. The shoe pricing scheme was not popular as well, and a few fans vowed that they wouldn't succumb to the pressure back then. However in the end, purchasing footwear grew commonplace. Now, sidekicks are additionally testing the limits of what a player could be prepared to pay to stand out amongst the crowd.

What's Ahead for Companion Pets?

Sidekicks are currently a relatively recent feature, and they're part of a game that changes frequently. A few players are sharing that they've received a survey that assesses how the community think about sidekick functionality and pricing, which could possibly indicate that the developer's strategy are still subject to change. But if the game footwear are a sign, companions likely won't become more affordable overall — instead, there may be a wider selection of costs to choose from.

After all, while certain players are raging at the game item costs, others are experiencing nothing but joy for their new battle royale pals.