As Respawn’s battle royale sensation, Apex Legends, approaches its sixth anniversary, Electronic Arts (EA) has expressed concerns over its financial performance. In a recent financial call discussing third-quarter results, EA revealed that Apex Legends' net bookings were down year-over-year, though they aligned with the company's expectations. During a Q&A session with analysts, EA CEO Andrew Wilson candidly discussed the game's situation, emphasizing that despite its massive player base of over 200 million, Apex Legends is not generating the revenue EA desires.
Wilson highlighted the game's success in engaging a dedicated community but acknowledged that the business trajectory has been less than ideal for some time. He detailed EA's ongoing efforts to support the community through quality-of-life improvements, anti-cheat measures, and new content. However, he admitted that the progress has been slower than hoped for.
In response to the financial challenges, EA is planning a significant update, dubbed Apex Legends 2.0. This update aims to revitalize the franchise, attract new players, and increase revenue. Wilson clarified that the release of Apex Legends 2.0 will be timed to avoid clashing with the next Battlefield game, expected before April 2026. Consequently, Apex Legends 2.0 is slated for release sometime during EA’s 2027 fiscal year, ending in March 2027.
Wilson expressed a long-term vision for Apex Legends, likening it to other EA franchises that have sustained popularity over decades. He affirmed the company's commitment to the game's core community and hinted at future expansions to broaden its appeal and support both competitive and casual players.
The concept of Apex Legends 2.0 draws comparisons to Activision's approach with Call of Duty: Warzone, which underwent a significant reboot in 2022. While the outcomes of such reboots are still debated among fans, EA remains focused on learning from competitors in the battle royale genre to enhance Apex Legends' player base.
Currently, Apex Legends maintains a strong presence on Steam, evidenced by its concurrent player count, though it has yet to surpass its historical peaks on the platform. As EA navigates these challenges, the future of Apex Legends hinges on the success of its upcoming major update and long-term strategy.
