Apex Legends 2.0 Emerges Amidst Battlefield Release

EA Announces Apex Legends 2.0 to Revitalize the Franchise

As Apex Legends approaches its sixth anniversary, Electronic Arts (EA) has acknowledged the game's underperformance in terms of revenue, despite maintaining a substantial player base. During a recent financial call, EA CEO Andrew Wilson revealed that while Apex Legends boasts over 200 million players, its current trajectory isn't meeting the company's financial goals.

Wilson emphasized the ongoing commitment to the tens of millions of active players, highlighting continuous efforts in content creation, quality-of-life improvements, and anti-cheat measures. While acknowledging some progress, he admitted that it hasn't been sufficient to achieve desired results.

To address this, EA is developing a significant update, dubbed "Apex Legends 2.0," aimed at reinvigorating the franchise and attracting new players. This major overhaul is planned for release after the next Battlefield game, likely sometime in EA's 2027 fiscal year (ending March 2027).

Wilson stressed that Apex Legends 2.0 won't be the final iteration of the game. EA intends to cultivate the franchise for years to come, mirroring the long-term success of other established titles. The company plans to continue investing in the core community while simultaneously attracting new players.

The Apex Legends 2.0 initiative bears resemblance to Activision's 2022 reboot of Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0. While the success of that strategy remains debated, EA will undoubtedly learn from competitors' experiences in the battle royale market.

Despite its current trajectory, Apex Legends remains a top-performing game on Steam based on concurrent player counts. However, it's significantly past its peak, and its player numbers are trending downward. The upcoming Apex Legends 2.0 update represents a crucial step for EA in securing the game's long-term viability and profitability.