Fortnite’s latest microtransaction treads into risky territory: character customization. Epic Games has rolled out Companions—NPCs that follow you around—and you’ll have to pay multiple times if you want to switch up their looks.

Microtransactions have been controversial from day one. Ever since Oblivion’s horse armor, in-game purchases have become the norm—especially with free-to-play’s rise. Within this climate of broad acceptance, Epic introduced a feature bound to spark debate: Companions. These NPC followers cost money and, if you want to adjust certain aspects of their appearance, you may need to buy additional versions. Commentators argue this feels like a new flavor of “cosmetic convenience tax” that could rub the community the wrong way.

Companions can tag along in Battle Royale, LEGO Fortnite, and user-made modes. Options range from banana-dogs to dino-lizards. Functionally, they follow you and even sync with emotes—so their value is mostly aesthetic and fun. Critics note that because they don’t impact gameplay, locking deeper personalization behind extra spend is an odd fit for a game famous for customization.

Swapping skins is free, but colors and looks aren’t

Here’s the catch: you’d better like what you pick, because you can’t change it freely. You can unlock new skins over time (using Companions earns points to redeem skins), but if you want to tweak basic traits—like color—you’ll have to purchase another Companion and select that aesthetic at checkout. Several reviews describe this as “atomized monetization,” charging piecemeal for granular adjustments.

Of course, Epic isn’t forcing the purchase, and, as noted, these changes are purely cosmetic. Still, in a title so obsessed with style and offering near-endless visual variety, the policy feels counterintuitive to many. And since these NPCs don’t affect balance, plenty of players argue their presence should be free in the first place.

The first Companion, Peels, becomes available through the Battle Pass on November 1. After that, Bonesy, Spike, and Lil’ Raptor hit the shop on November 7; players who already own the Bonesy back bling will get the matching Companion at no charge. Even so, Epic’s choice to make appearance changes effectively permanent (or require a repurchase) has reignited the broader debate over monetization and microtransactions in Fortnite.

Source: 3djuegos