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Some battle royale enthusiasts are experiencing disappointed, and it's not because of the latest virtual happenings. The game's current limited-time event, that brings a Springfield map, has also rolled out a brand-new feature known as sidekicks. There's no ignore that these latest companions are cute. But, the attached costs have left many fans shocked at the developer's attempts to profit from nearly each part of the gaming experience.

Understanding Sidekicks?

Companions are essentially similar to Pokémon, though with a few limitations. You can give them a name, and they will accompany you throughout a game. These sidekicks are immortal, and you can pet them. Opposing gamers not in your party cannot view sidekicks — and showing off one's animal friends is arguably a big part of the fun of having them. Sidekicks can be customized with costumes and emotes, however the controversy centers on their looks. Each pet's main appearance is only able to be changed once, at which point that selection becomes permanent. You can choose a sidekick's fur shade, secondary colors, iris tones, markings, and their build size.

The Costly Customization System

Should you later decide that you want your sidekick to appear a bit different, you cannot just continue to modify the appearance. You have to buy a new companion. And, these pets aren't inexpensive. Most people are getting the Peels pet, since it is packaged with this season's 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 costs $8.99 and 2,800 V-Bucks are $22.99. However, players can rename a sidekick whenever you'd like.

Player Response and Comparisons

Most pets have not been formally launched so far, meaning the cost could well be adjusted. But regardless of whether the developer sets companions cheaper, much of the frustration comes from the reality that players might have to spend for a single kind of pet multiple times. For some, the pricing scheme feels particularly egregious when the game has previously introduced companions that ride about inside backpack accessories. Backpack pets lack a customization limitation and can be seen by other participants in the match. Back bling pets can't be named or use emotes, but opposing gamers are able to sometimes engage with them — which is more favorable than remaining invisible completely.

Lack of unique functions and limited interaction options have many gamers feeling underwhelmed. For instance, why is it not possible to you, such as, interact playfully with your stylish fruit-themed pet? Some point out that sidekicks do not always stay close with the player if a match is fast-paced, or observe that the banana pet takes up two spots in the reward system — which supports the idea that the developer is pressuring the community for money. Greedy is a term that's appearing often in these discussions, with some likening sidekick pricing to similar aggressive pricing schemes in titles like popular sports games. It also doesn't help that certain pets are expected to be pricier than equivalent outfit versions.

"We urge you to do not purchasing Sidekicks," urges one popular community thread that encourages other players to figuratively vote with their wallets.

"We understand these pets are adorable," the thread adds, "we realize they're enjoyable. I know everyone has been anticipating them. However the greed on display is unacceptable and should not be rewarded."

The Bigger Context of In-Game Purchases

In recent years, the game's events and partnerships have grown in scale and ambition, yet the free-to-play title still must earn income. Therefore, the total quantity of cosmetics players can now purchase has become almost excessive. Beyond standard items like back accessories, gliders, harvesting tools, and emotes, players might potentially spend money on footwear, songs, musical tools, building blocks, vehicles, wheels, vehicle drift colors, seasonal rewards, and a membership. Companion pets not only require money, and also introduce a host of new monetization avenues for the company. Presumably, users will soon be in a position to pay for things like pet appearances, costumes, emotes, and further engagement features.

Every one of these cosmetics are completely optional and not necessary to have fun with the experience, but equipment can still influence your community experience. Kids, for example, sometimes face teasing for not wearing flashy enough outfits. A comparable situation previously transpired when the company launched licensed shoes, which may be priced from 600 to 1,000 V-Bucks. That footwear cost model wasn't popular either, and some fans vowed that they'd avoid succumb to the temptation at the time. However in the end, buying footwear grew commonplace. Now, sidekicks are additionally testing the boundaries of how much a gamer might be willing to spend to be distinctive amongst the player base.

What is Ahead for Sidekicks?

Pets are currently a relatively new feature, and they exist a game that changes regularly. Some fans are reporting that they've received a survey that gauges how the community think about sidekick mechanics and pricing, which could potentially mean that the company's plans are remain subject to change. Yet if the game shoes are any indication, companions likely will not get cheaper in general — there will just be a wider range of costs to choose from.

Ultimately, where some individuals are expressing anger at the game item costs, different players are experiencing only happiness for their new battle royale friends.