Fortnite fans are riled up over 'greedy' sidekick pets – Polygon
Some Fortnite fans have a bad taste in their mouths, and it's not because they've savaged Peely alongside The Simpsons family. The game's new mini-season, which transforms the map into Springfield, also introduced a new mechanic in the form of sidekicks. There's no denying that Fortnite's new pets are cute. But the associated prices have left some fans aghast at Epic Games' attempts to monetize as many aspects of the game as possible.
Sidekicks are basically Pokémon, but slightly worse. You can name them, and the sidekicks will follow you around during a match. They're immortal, and you can pet them. Other people outside of your party can't see sidekicks — and showing off your animal friends is arguably half the fun of having them. Sidekicks can be decked out with outfits and emotes, but the controversy revolves around their appearance. A sidekick's overarching look can only be changed once, at which point that selection becomes permanent. You can choose a sidekick's coat color, accent hues, eye colors, pattern, and their build size.
If you later decide that you want your sidekick to look slightly different, you can't just further customize its appearance. You have to buy another sidekick. And sidekicks aren't cheap. Most people are getting the Peels sidekick, because it comes packed with this season's battle pass. According to leaks, upcoming sidekicks can cost anywhere between 1,000 to 1,500 V-Bucks; for reference, 1,000 V-Bucks costs $8.99 and 2,800 V-Bucks cost $22.99. You can, however, rename a sidekick as many times as you'd like.
Most sidekicks haven't been officially released yet, so the pricing may well change. But even if Epic makes sidekicks cheaper, much of the anger is rooted in the fact the publisher expects fans to potentially pay for a single type of sidekick more than once. For some, the pricing scheme feels particularly egregious when Epic Games has already implemented pets that ride around inside of back blings. Back bling pets do not have a customization limitation and can be seen by other players in the match. Back bling buddies can't be named or perform emotes, but other players can sometimes interact with them — which is better than being invisible altogether.
The lack of unique features and limited interaction options have many players feeling underwhelmed. Why can't you, for example, play fetch with your fancy banana dog? Some point out that sidekicks do not always keep up with the player if a match is moving quickly as well, or note that Peels takes up two slots in the battle pass — which reinforces the idea Epic Games is squeezing players for money. "Greedy" is a word that's popping up a lot during these discussions, with some comparing sidekick monetization to EA's intense pricing schemes in games like EA Sports FC. It also doesn't help that some sidekicks are expected to be more expensive than their character skin counterparts.
Now retrieving an image set.
Purina Fancy Feast Gravy Lovers Poultry and Beef Grilled Gourmet Wet Cat Food Variety Pack - (Pack of 30) 3 oz. Cans
$25.74 (as of November 15, 2025 19:37 GMT -06:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
Now retrieving an image set.
Temptations Classic Crunchy and Soft Cat Treats Tasty Chicken Flavor, 30 oz. Tub
$15.48 (as of November 15, 2025 19:37 GMT -06:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
Now retrieving an image set.
Milk-Bone Soft & Chewy Dog Treats, Beef & Filet Mignon Recipe, 25 Ounce
$14.47 (as of November 15, 2025 19:37 GMT -06:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
Now retrieving an image set.
Earth Rated Pet Wipes for Dogs and Cats, Hypoallergenic, Cleaning and Hydrating, for Grooming Paws, Body and Butt, Unscented, 100 Count
$9.98 (as of November 15, 2025 19:37 GMT -06:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
Now retrieving an image set.
