It’s finally here—Fortnite has rolled out Sidekicks, those adorable little pets that follow you around in battle. But here’s the catch: they come with a hefty price tag, and customization options are limited, forcing players to buy multiple pets just to tweak a few details like ear shape.
The reaction from the community has been pretty mixed. Sure, having a furry sidekick while you navigate the battlefield or engage in Creative mode sounds fun—plus, you can pet them and watch them do a little dance! But many players are left disappointed because even though you can customize aspects like size and color, those choices are permanent. If you decide you want a “chonky” pup after picking a regular one, well, you’re out of luck unless you shell out for another pet. With the first batch of Sidekicks priced between 1,200 and 1,500 V-Bucks, which is more than some character skins, it’s not exactly an easy buy.
One Reddit user expressed the frustration many are feeling, saying, “I know they’re cute. I know they’re fun. I know we have all been looking forward to them. But the greed on display is disgusting and should not be rewarded.” They urged fellow players to think twice before spending their hard-earned V-Bucks.
Some Twitter users echoed similar sentiments. One wrote, “Please Fortnite, you gotta listen to the community here; these Sidekicks are an awesome idea, but the way they’re being handled isn’t right. Most people don’t want to or can’t really afford to buy the same cosmetic multiple times, especially nowadays.”
Another fan chimed in, appreciating the Sidekicks concept but criticizing the pricing, stating, “The Sidekicks feature in Fortnite is genuinely pretty fun and I actually like it, but man, I just cannot get behind the absurd pricing scheme and ‘buy it again if you want to change how it looks!’ gimmick, especially since they are like $15 each.”
But there might be a silver lining on the horizon. Some players have received surveys asking for feedback on the one-time customization rules, hinting that Epic Games is at least aware of the pushback. After all, the current Battle Pass rewards players with not one, but two versions of the cute banana dog Peels, making it clear that Epic is aware of the demand for options. Still, it’ll be interesting to see if they address these concerns.
Meanwhile, the Fortnite crossover with The Simpsons has sparked its own debates among players. Some think the new, cramped map contributes to what they’re calling “Small Map Syndrome,” joking that it feels more like Reload than a classic Battle Royale experience.