EA's Apex Legends: A Sixth Birthday and a 2.0 Reboot?
As Apex Legends approaches its sixth anniversary, EA has acknowledged its underperformance, announcing plans for a significant overhaul dubbed "Apex Legends 2.0." While boasting a massive player base exceeding 200 million, EA CEO Andrew Wilson stated that the game's revenue isn't meeting expectations.
Wilson highlighted a three-pronged approach: continued community support (including quality-of-life improvements and anti-cheat measures), ongoing content creation, and the development of Apex Legends 2.0. While acknowledging progress, he admitted it hasn't been sufficient to meet their targets.
Apex Legends 2.0 is envisioned as a major revitalization, aiming to 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. This significant update isn't intended as a final iteration; EA anticipates continued evolution and expansion of the franchise over the long term. The company remains committed to its existing tens of millions of players and plans to attract new audiences.
The Apex Legends 2.0 strategy bears resemblance to Activision's Warzone 2.0 reboot. While the success of that approach remains debated, EA will undoubtedly learn from its competitors' experiences in the battle royale market. Despite its continued popularity on Steam (measured by concurrent players), Apex Legends has seen a decline from its peak, prompting this significant strategic shift.
