Epic Games has introduced a new category of cosmetics called Fortnite Sidekicks. They’re essentially pets that follow the player around in various modes, including Battle Royale, LEGO Fortnite, Save the World, Fortnite Festival (though they’ll remain backstage), and even user-made experiences (though only if the creator has enabled them).
They won’t provide any gameplay advantages, so their only real perk is looking cute. They do, however, react to the surrounding world, and players can interact with them through special Sidekick Emotes. The first one to be introduced to the game is Peels, a ‘banana dog’, which will be available to be unlocked via the Battle Pass starting tomorrow. Bonesy (which will be granted to owners of the Bonesy Back Bling), Spike, and Lil’ Raptor will go live next Friday, and Epic also teased that there will soon be something for the many cat lovers out there.
It sounds like yet another idea that will earn Epic a lot of money, especially because they are locking repeated customization beyond multiple purchases of the same pet. That’s right: you may only customize the physical traits of Fortnite Sidekicks once. If you purchase it multiple times, you can give it separate Appearances, which must be unique (duplicate Appearances are not allowed).
Needless to say, some Fortnite players have already criticized this choice as a blatant way to extract more money from the user base. It is especially lamentable, since younger players may well be among the most interested in this kind of cosmetic customization. That said, Epic does allow you to change the Sidekick’s name and accessories at any time, and you can also earn hats and hoodies by hanging out with your pet and using your Sidekick Points.
The current Fortnite season, Shock ‘N Awesome, will end tomorrow at 8:30 AM Pacific Time/11:30 AM Eastern Time/4:30 PM Central European Time. The downtime is expected to last around two to three hours, after which Fortnite Chapter 6 Season 5, which is known to be themed around The Simpsons, will go live.
Follow Wccftech on Google or add us as a preferred source, to get our news coverage and reviews in your feeds.
