You head down to the pet shelter in Fortnite. It’s full. Woof, says one invincible banana dog, I barely see my owner because they wanted me to be a banana dog who regularly changes colour. Alas, this cannot be, so they’ve had to spend their V-Bucks on a small army of invincible banana dogs in a variety of hues. You try to cheer up this Sidekick by telling them that their owner can at least change their name and hat at any time. It provides little comfort.
These pets, whom Epic explain are “friendly cosmetics” dubbed Sidekicks who’ll hang out by your side when you delve into the kaleidoscope of collaborations’ numerous modes, are set to arrive in November. Finally, the option of owning a mutant banana dog named peels who runs around at your heels and ruthlessly emotes as you nail headshots will be yours. These critters can’t take damage or be seen by foes in battle royale, lest you fear someone taking out Fido and attempting to teabag their corpse.
“They’re your own customizable companion,” Epic’s intro post reads. “You can design your Sidekick, and select their permanent, physical traits, which is how they will appear moving forward. However, you can change their name and accessories at any time. Cosmetics like hats and hoodies can be earned with Sidekick Points from hanging out together.”
Their appearance includes things like the colour of their fur, and if after locking in their starter look you decide you want your banana dog to be green or brown – those being the only other lore-friendly colours for a banana dog – you’ll have to buy a whole new banana dog with hard-earned V-Bucks. It’s an annoying restriction to put on things, and one that’ll probably make Epic a lot of microtransaction bank from those who quickly tire of their pet looking a certain way underneath the threads and bling.
You also can’t own two identical yellow banana dogs, with Epic explaining: “You can purchase a Sidekick multiple times and give them different Appearances; however, each Sidekick customization you own in your Locker must be unique. Duplicate Appearances are not allowed.” You heard them, no cloning Peels so you can swap his body doubles in and out whenever you feel they’re in need of a union-mandated Sidekick smoke break.
Banana dog Peels is set to be the first Sidekick to hit Fortnite, arriving November 1st. More pets, dubbed Bonesy, Spike, and Lil’ Raptor, will rock up on November 7th. There’s nothing for cat lovers in those early offerings, but Epic have teased some kind of feline friend arriving soon. My money’s on a weird fish-cat designed to mirror Fishstick, with its paradoxical appearance leading it to be constantly consumed by a desire to munch on its own flesh.
