Fortnite Game Community Voice Frustration Over Latest Companion Creatures and Alleged Greed

Some Fortnite enthusiasts are feeling let down, and it's not because of recent virtual events. Fortnite's current mini-season, that introduces a Simpsons-themed world, has also unveiled a fresh mechanic known as pets. There's no deny that the new pets are cute. But, the associated costs have left numerous players shocked at the developer's efforts to profit from nearly each aspect of the gaming experience.

What Are Companion Pets?

Companions are essentially similar to Pokémon, but with a few drawbacks. Players can give them a name, and they will accompany you during a match. They are immortal, and players can pet them. Opposing players outside your squad are unable to view sidekicks — and displaying your animal friends is perhaps a big part of the fun of having them. Pets are able to be outfitted with outfits and emotes, however the controversy centers on their looks. A pet's overall appearance can only be altered once, at which point that selection is final. You can select a sidekick's fur shade, accent hues, iris tones, markings, and its build size.

The Expensive Customization System

If you later choose that they'd like your sidekick to look slightly altered, you cannot simply further customize the appearance. You have to buy another companion. Furthermore, sidekicks are not cheap. The majority of people are obtaining the Peels sidekick, since it is packaged in this season's battle pass. According to unofficial reports, future sidekicks could cost 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. You can change the name of a sidekick as many times as you'd like.

Community Response and Parallels

The majority of pets haven't been formally launched yet, meaning the pricing may easily be adjusted. Yet regardless of whether the developer makes companions cheaper, much of the anger stems from the reality that gamers could have to pay for a one kind of pet multiple times. For some, the pricing scheme feels especially unfair when the game has previously added pets that are carried around as part of backpack accessories. Back bling pets lack a restriction on changes and can be seen by other players in the match. Back bling buddies cannot be given a name or use gestures, however opposing gamers can sometimes engage with them — and this is better than remaining invisible completely.

Lack of special features and limited engagement choices have numerous players feeling disappointed. Why can't a player, for example, interact playfully with their stylish banana dog? A few 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 slots in the battle pass — and this reinforces the idea that the developer is pressuring players for money. Profit-driven is a word that's appearing often in these discussions, with some comparing pet monetization to other aggressive monetization models in titles like popular sports games. Additionally, it adds to the issue that certain sidekicks are expected to be more expensive than equivalent character skin versions.

"We urge you to avoid purchasing Sidekicks," pleads a popular online post that encourages other gamers to figuratively express disapproval by not spending.

"I know these pets are cute," the thread continues, "I know they are fun. I know everyone has been looking forward to them. But the greed on display is unacceptable and should not be supported."

The Bigger Context of In-Game Purchases

Over the past few years, Fortnite's special occasions and partnerships have expanded in scope and aspiration, yet the free-to-play title still must generate revenue. Therefore, the total number of cosmetics users are able to now buy has grown nearly overwhelming. In addition to standard items like back blings, deployment tools, harvesting tools, and gestures, you could potentially spend cash on footwear, music tracks, instruments, Lego pieces, vehicles, wheels, vehicle drift colors, battle passes, and a membership. Sidekicks do not just cost payment, and also bring in a host of new revenue avenues for the developer. Presumably, players will soon be in a position to pay for things like sidekick appearances, outfits, emotes, and further engagement options.

Every one of these customization items are completely optional and unneeded to have fun with the game, yet gear can still affect a player's community interactions. Kids, for instance, sometimes face teasing for using flashy enough outfits. A similar situation previously occurred when the developer launched brand-name shoes, which may be priced from 600 to 1,000 V-Bucks. That shoe cost model was not well received either, and a few fans promised that they'd avoid succumb to the pressure back then. However ultimately, buying footwear became normalized. Now, sidekicks are additionally pushing the limits of what a player could be prepared to spend to be distinctive within the crowd.

What is Ahead for Sidekicks?

Pets are still a fairly new feature, and they're part of a title that changes regularly. A few players are reporting that they have received a survey that gauges how people think about sidekick mechanics and monetization, and this might possibly indicate that the developer's strategy are still subject to change. But if Fortnite shoes are a sign, companions likely will not become cheaper in general — there will just be a broader selection of costs to choose from.

Ultimately, where some players are raging at Fortnite shop prices, others are experiencing nothing but happiness for their new battle royale friends.