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A number of battle royale enthusiasts are experiencing disappointed, and this isn't due to the latest in-game events. The game's newest mini-season, which brings a Springfield world, also unveiled a brand-new feature called pets. It's impossible to deny that these latest pets are cute. But, the attached prices have left many players shocked at this developer's efforts to monetize nearly each part of the game.

What Are Companion Pets?

Sidekicks are basically similar to digital creatures, but having some limitations. Players can give them a name, and these pets will follow you throughout a match. These sidekicks are indestructible, and you can interact with them. Opposing players not in your party are unable to view these pets — and displaying your companions is perhaps half the fun of owning them. Pets can be outfitted with outfits and gestures, however the controversy revolves around their appearance. Each sidekick's main design can only be changed once, after which that selection is permanent. You can choose a sidekick's fur shade, secondary colors, eye colors, markings, and its build size.

The Costly Personalization System

If a player afterward decide that they'd like their pet to look a bit altered, you cannot simply further modify its look. You have to purchase a new companion. And, sidekicks are not inexpensive. The majority of people are obtaining the Peels pet, because it's packaged with the current reward track. According to leaks, upcoming sidekicks could cost from 1,000 to 1,500 V-Bucks; for reference, 1,000 V-Bucks is priced at $8.99 and 2,800 V-Bucks are $22.99. You can change the name of a companion whenever you'd like.

Community Reaction and Parallels

The majority of sidekicks have not been officially released so far, meaning the pricing could easily be adjusted. Yet even if the developer makes sidekicks cheaper, much of the anger comes from the reality that players might need to spend for a single type of pet more than once. To certain players, the pricing scheme feels particularly unfair considering the game has previously introduced companions that ride around inside backpack accessories. Back bling pets lack a restriction on changes and are visible by fellow players in the match. Backpack buddies cannot be given a name or perform gestures, but opposing gamers can occasionally interact with them — and this is better than being unseen completely.

The absence of unique features and restricted interaction options have numerous players feeling disappointed. Why can't a player, for example, play fetch with your stylish banana dog? A few note that companions sometimes fail to stay close with the user if a game is moving quickly, or observe that the banana pet occupies two spots in the battle pass — which reinforces the idea that the developer is pressuring players for revenue. Profit-driven is a word that's appearing often in such conversations, with a number of comparing pet pricing to similar aggressive monetization models in titles like EA Sports FC. Additionally, it adds to the issue that certain pets are expected to be pricier than equivalent character skin counterparts.

"We urge you to avoid purchasing Companion Pets," pleads a highly-voted community post that encourages other gamers to proverbially vote with their wallets.

"I know these pets are adorable," the post continues, "I know they are fun. I know everyone has been looking forward to them. However the greed on display is unacceptable and must not be supported."

The Broader Picture of In-Game Spending

In recent years, the game's events and partnerships have grown in scope and aspiration, yet the no-cost-to-start game still must generate revenue. Therefore, the total quantity of items players are able to currently purchase has become nearly overwhelming. Beyond standard items like back accessories, deployment tools, pickaxes, and gestures, you could potentially use cash on shoes, music tracks, instruments, building blocks, cars, wheels, custom paint jobs, seasonal rewards, and a membership. Sidekicks not only cost money, and also introduce a range of fresh monetization options for the company. It is likely, players will soon be able to pay for items like pet looks, costumes, gestures, and additional engagement features.

All of such cosmetics are entirely voluntary and unneeded to enjoy the experience, but gear can still influence your community experience. Kids, for instance, sometimes face bullying for using flashy enough skins. A similar issue previously transpired when the developer launched licensed shoes, which can range from 600 to 1,000 V-Bucks. The footwear pricing scheme was not popular either, and a few players vowed that they wouldn't succumb to the temptation back then. However ultimately, purchasing shoes grew normalized. Now, sidekicks are further testing the boundaries of how much a player could be prepared to pay to stand out amongst the player base.

What is Ahead for Sidekicks?

Pets are still a fairly recent addition, and they exist a title that updates frequently. A few fans are reporting that they have gotten a questionnaire that assesses how people feel about pet mechanics and monetization, which could potentially mean that the company's strategy are still subject to change. Yet if the game footwear are any indication, sidekicks likely will not become more affordable overall — there will just be a wider range of costs to shop.

After all, where certain players are expressing anger at the game item costs, others are feeling nothing but happiness for their new battle royale pals.