EA's Apex Legends: A Sixth Birthday and a 2.0 Reboot?
As Apex Legends approaches its sixth anniversary, EA acknowledges its underperformance despite a massive player base. While boasting over 200 million players, the game's revenue isn't meeting EA's expectations. CEO Andrew Wilson confirmed this in a recent financial call, stating that while the game's trajectory hasn't aligned with their goals, they've been actively working on improvements.
Wilson highlighted three key areas of focus: continued community support (including quality-of-life updates and anti-cheat measures), the creation of new content, and, most significantly, the development of "Apex Legends 2.0."
Apex Legends 2.0 is envisioned as a major overhaul designed to revitalize the franchise, attract new players, and boost revenue. However, its release is strategically planned for after the next Battlefield title, likely sometime in EA's 2027 fiscal year. Wilson emphasized that this isn't the end of Apex Legends, but rather a significant evolution.
The planned update echoes Activision's approach with Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0. While the success of that reboot remains debated, EA will undoubtedly learn from its competitors' experiences in the battle royale market.
Despite its current financial struggles, Apex Legends remains a top-performing game on Steam, though its concurrent player count is significantly below its peak, currently trending towards record lows. EA's commitment to Apex Legends and its future remains strong, with continued investment in the existing community and the ambitious Apex Legends 2.0 project. The long-term vision is to cultivate Apex Legends into a lasting franchise, comparable to other successful EA titles that have thrived for decades.
