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Some battle royale players are feeling let down, and it's not because of the latest in-game happenings. The game's current mini-season, which brings a Simpsons-themed world, also rolled out a fresh feature known as pets. There's no deny that the new pets are cute. However, the associated costs have left many players shocked at this developer's efforts to monetize nearly each part of the gaming experience.

What Are Sidekicks?

Sidekicks are basically like digital creatures, though having some drawbacks. Players can give them a name, and they will follow you throughout a match. They are indestructible, and you can interact with them. Opposing gamers outside the player's squad are unable to view sidekicks — and showing off one's animal friends is perhaps a big part of the fun of owning them. Sidekicks are able to be outfitted with costumes and emotes, however the debate revolves around their looks. A sidekick's main appearance is only able to be altered once, at which point that choice becomes permanent. You can choose a companion's coat color, accent hues, eye colors, markings, and their build size.

A Costly Customization Mechanism

If a player afterward decide that you want their sidekick to look slightly different, you cannot simply further modify the appearance. Players must purchase another companion. And, these pets aren't cheap. Most players are getting the Peels sidekick, since it's included in the current battle pass. According to leaks, upcoming 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 cost $22.99. However, players can rename a sidekick as many times as they want.

Community Reaction and Comparisons

The majority of sidekicks have not been formally launched so far, meaning the pricing may well change. Yet regardless of whether the company sets companions more affordable, much of the anger comes from the fact that gamers might have to spend for a one type of pet multiple times. For some, the pricing scheme seems particularly egregious considering the game has previously introduced pets that ride around inside back blings. Backpack pets do not have a restriction on changes and can be seen by fellow participants in the game. Back bling pets can't be named or perform emotes, however opposing players are able to sometimes engage with them — and this is more favorable than remaining unseen altogether.

Lack of special functions and restricted engagement options have many gamers experiencing underwhelmed. Why can't a player, for example, play fetch with their fancy banana dog? Some note that companions do not always stay close with the user if a game is fast-paced, or mention that Peels takes up two spots in the battle pass — and this reinforces the idea that the developer is pressuring players for revenue. Profit-driven is a word that's appearing often in these conversations, with some comparing sidekick monetization to other aggressive pricing schemes in titles like popular sports games. It also doesn't help that some sidekicks are expected to be more expensive than equivalent character skin counterparts.

"We urge you to do not purchasing Companion Pets," pleads a popular online post that advises fellow gamers to figuratively express disapproval by not spending.

"I know these pets are adorable," the post adds, "I know they're fun. I know everyone has been looking forward to them. But the greed being shown is unacceptable and must not be rewarded."

The Bigger Context of In-Game Purchases

In recent years, the game's special occasions and collaborations have expanded in scope and ambition, but the no-cost-to-start game continues to must earn income. Therefore, the total number of items users can now purchase has become almost overwhelming. Beyond standard items like back accessories, gliders, harvesting tools, and gestures, you could possibly use cash on footwear, music tracks, musical tools, building blocks, vehicles, wheels, vehicle drift colors, seasonal rewards, and a subscription. Sidekicks do not just require payment, but also introduce a host of new monetization avenues for the company. Presumably, players will before long be in a position to spend for items like sidekick looks, outfits, gestures, and further interaction features.

All of such cosmetics are entirely voluntary and not necessary to have fun with the game, yet equipment can still affect a player's community interactions. Younger players, for instance, sometimes encounter bullying for not wearing impressive enough skins. A similar situation previously occurred when the developer launched brand-name kicks, which may be priced from 600 to 1,000 V-Bucks. The footwear cost model was not well received as well, and some fans vowed that they'd avoid succumb to the pressure at the time. However ultimately, purchasing footwear grew commonplace. Now, sidekicks are further pushing the limits of what a gamer could be prepared to spend to be distinctive amongst the crowd.

What's Next for Sidekicks?

Sidekicks are still a relatively new feature, and they're part of a title that changes regularly. Some fans are reporting that they've gotten a questionnaire that gauges how the community feel about sidekick mechanics and monetization, and this might potentially indicate that the company's plans are remain subject to change. But if Fortnite footwear are any indication, companions likely won't become more affordable overall — there will just be a wider range of costs to choose from.

After all, where some individuals are raging at the game item costs, others are experiencing only happiness for their battle royale pals.