Fortnite is once again in the spotlight as Epic Games launches a new survey addressing the community’s concerns. The focus is on the game’s newly introduced pet-like Sidekicks and the contentious rebuy system tied to customizing these creatures. Players are being asked for their thoughts on whether the permanent nature of initial customization choices enhances or hinders their gaming experience.
Unlocking the Sidekick Mystery
In the current setup, Fortnite players choose permanent features for their Sidekick, including body color, shape, and style, without the option to alter these decisions. The debut Sidekick available is Peels, a banana dog hybrid, obtainable through The Simpsons battle pass. With Peels, players make a one-time choice of banana skin color, ear shape, and body style upon first use.
Each Sidekick comes with a mini battle pass offering additional cosmetic options like emotes and shirts, but if players desire a change in the core design, they must purchase another Sidekick altogether.
New Additions and Player Feedback
Starting November 7, more Sidekicks will be available in the Fortnite shop, including various dog breeds, a dinosaur, and a Fishstick fish, priced between 1,200 and 1,500 V-Bucks. Each new Sidekick is poised to include permanent customization options, requiring fans to buy multiple versions to fully explore all possibilities.
In response to criticism, Epic Games has reached out to players through a survey questioning the permanent customization feature of Sidekicks. This move offers a glimpse of hope that Epic might reconsider the design limitations. Questions in the survey probe player sentiments on the necessity of purchasing additional copies to access different features.
Community Reactions and Future Prospects
The gaming community is divided. Some players liken buying Sidekicks to adopting unique creatures, while others see parallels to Fortnite’s digital shoes, which require multiple purchases for different designs. However, the inability to alter Sidekicks’ core features contrasts sharply with the flexible customization of character skins and traditional Pets, sparking further discussion among fans.
The introduction of Sidekicks has not been met with universal acclaim, with many players voicing their disapproval online and urging others to refrain from purchasing them. As Epic Games collects survey responses and monitors sales from the upcoming shop update, the future of Sidekicks’ customization approach hangs in the balance.