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Some battle royale enthusiasts are feeling let down, and it's not because of the latest virtual events. Fortnite's newest mini-season, that brings a Springfield map, also rolled out a fresh mechanic called pets. It's impossible to deny that the latest companions are adorable. However, the attached costs have left many players stunned at the company's efforts to monetize almost every aspect of the game.

What Are Companion Pets?

Sidekicks are basically similar to digital creatures, though with some drawbacks. Players can name them, and these pets will follow your character throughout a game. These sidekicks are indestructible, and you can pet them. Other players outside your squad are unable to view these pets — and showing off one's animal friends is arguably half the fun of owning them. Pets are able to be outfitted with outfits and gestures, however the debate centers on their looks. Each sidekick's overall design is only able to be changed once, at which point that choice becomes final. You can select a sidekick's coat color, secondary colors, iris tones, markings, and their body type.

A Costly Customization System

Should you afterward choose that they'd like your sidekick to look slightly altered, you cannot just further customize its look. Players must purchase a new sidekick. And, these pets are not inexpensive. The majority of players are obtaining the banana-themed pet, since it's packaged in the current battle pass. According to leaks, upcoming pets may be priced at anywhere between 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 companion whenever you'd like.

Player Reaction and Comparisons

Most sidekicks have not been formally released yet, so the pricing may well be adjusted. But regardless of whether the company makes companions cheaper, much of the frustration comes from the reality that gamers could need to pay for a single kind of sidekick multiple times. For some, the cost structure seems especially unfair when the game has already introduced pets that are carried around inside backpack accessories. Back bling pets lack a restriction on changes and are visible by fellow players in the game. Back bling buddies can't be given a name or use emotes, however opposing gamers are able to sometimes interact with them — and this is better than remaining unseen altogether.

The absence of unique features and restricted interaction options have many players experiencing disappointed. For instance, why is it not possible to a player, for example, play fetch with their stylish fruit-themed pet? Some point out that companions sometimes fail to stay close with the user if a match is fast-paced, or mention that the banana pet takes up two spots in the reward system — and this reinforces the notion that the developer is squeezing the community for money. Greedy is a word that's appearing often in such conversations, with a number of comparing pet pricing to similar aggressive pricing schemes in titles like EA Sports FC. Additionally, it doesn't help that some sidekicks are projected to be pricier than equivalent outfit counterparts.

"PLEASE do not buy Companion Pets," pleads a highly-voted online thread that encourages other gamers to figuratively vote with their wallets.

"We understand they're cute," the thread continues, "we realize they're fun. We are aware we have all been looking forward to them. However the monetization focus being shown is unacceptable and should not be rewarded."

The Broader Context of Virtual Spending

In recent years, Fortnite's events and collaborations have grown in scope and ambition, but the no-cost-to-start game still must generate income. Therefore, the sheer number of cosmetics users are able to currently purchase has become nearly overwhelming. Beyond basics like back blings, deployment tools, harvesting tools, and gestures, you could potentially use cash on shoes, music tracks, instruments, building blocks, vehicles, wheels, vehicle drift colors, battle passes, and a membership. Companion pets do not just require payment, and also bring in a host of fresh monetization options for the company. Presumably, users will before long be in a position to spend for things like pet appearances, outfits, emotes, and additional interaction features.

All of these cosmetics are completely voluntary and unneeded to enjoy the experience, yet equipment can nonetheless affect a player's community experience. Kids, for example, at times encounter bullying for using impressive enough outfits. A similar situation previously transpired when the company launched licensed shoes, which can range from 600 to 1,000 V-Bucks. That shoe cost model wasn't well received either, and a few players vowed that they wouldn't fall prey to the pressure back then. However ultimately, purchasing shoes grew normalized. Today, sidekicks are further pushing the boundaries of what a gamer might be willing to spend to be distinctive within the player base.

What's Next for Sidekicks?

Pets are still a fairly new feature, and they exist a title that changes frequently. A few players are reporting that they have received a survey that gauges how the community think about sidekick functionality and pricing, which could possibly indicate that the developer's plans are still fluid. Yet if Fortnite footwear are any indication, companions likely won't become cheaper in general — there will just be a broader selection of prices to choose from.

After all, while certain individuals are expressing anger at the game item costs, others are feeling only happiness for their new battle royale pals.