Apex Legends 2.0 Emerges Amidst Battlefield Anticipation

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 Apex Legends' net bookings have fallen short of targets.

Wilson emphasized the game's continued support for its tens of millions of daily active players, focusing on quality-of-life improvements, anti-cheat measures, and new content. While progress has been made, it hasn't been substantial enough.

The solution? EA is developing "Apex Legends 2.0," a significant update aiming to revitalize the franchise, attract new players, and boost revenue. However, the launch is strategically planned for after the next Battlefield title, likely sometime in EA's 2027 fiscal year (ending March 2027).

Wilson clarified that Apex Legends 2.0 won't be the final iteration of the game. EA intends to cultivate Apex Legends as a long-term franchise, similar to its other successful titles, with further substantial updates planned for the future. The company remains committed to its existing player base while simultaneously seeking to expand its reach to 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 is undoubtedly aware of the risks and will carefully consider its approach to compete effectively in the crowded battle royale market.

Despite its current trajectory, Apex Legends maintains a strong presence on Steam, consistently ranking among the top-played games by concurrent player count. However, it's significantly below its peak performance, highlighting the need for EA's planned revitalization efforts.