Apex Legends 2.0 Announced by EA to Follow Battlefield Release

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. In a recent financial call, EA CEO Andrew Wilson confirmed that while Apex Legends boasts over 200 million players, its revenue isn't meeting expectations. While the game continues to receive content updates and anti-cheat improvements to maintain its core community, the overall business trajectory isn't where EA wants it to be.

Wilson outlined a three-pronged approach: continued community support (including quality-of-life improvements and new content), ongoing testing and development of new content, and a significant game overhaul dubbed "Apex Legends 2.0." This 2.0 update, designed to revitalize the franchise and attract new players, is slated for release after the next Battlefield title, likely sometime in EA's 2027 fiscal year.

This strategy mirrors Activision's approach with Warzone 2.0, although the long-term success of that reboot remains debatable. EA is acutely aware of the competitive battle royale landscape and will carefully consider the successes and failures of similar reboots.

While Apex Legends consistently ranks among the top-played games on Steam, its concurrent player count is significantly below its peak, highlighting the need for a substantial refresh. EA's commitment to the franchise is evident, with plans for long-term support and a major update aimed at attracting both existing and new players, ensuring Apex Legends remains a viable contender in the fiercely competitive battle royale market for years to come. The ultimate success of Apex Legends 2.0, however, remains to be seen.