EA Announces Apex Legends 2.0 to Revitalize the Franchise
As Apex Legends approaches its sixth anniversary, EA has acknowledged the game's underperformance in terms of revenue, despite maintaining a substantial player base. During a recent earnings call, EA CEO Andrew Wilson revealed that while Apex Legends boasts over 200 million players, its financial trajectory hasn't met expectations.
Wilson emphasized the ongoing commitment to the tens of millions of active players, focusing on improvements to the core experience through quality-of-life updates, anti-cheat measures, and new content. However, he admitted that progress hasn't been as significant as hoped.
To address the financial shortfall, EA is developing a major overhaul, dubbed "Apex Legends 2.0." This update aims to reinvigorate the franchise, attract new players, and ultimately boost revenue. The release is strategically planned for after the launch of the next Battlefield game, likely sometime in EA's 2027 fiscal year.
Wilson clarified that Apex Legends 2.0 won't be the final iteration of the game. EA intends to continue supporting the franchise for years to come, expanding its reach to new player communities while maintaining its appeal to the existing competitive player base. The long-term vision is to cultivate Apex Legends into a lasting franchise, mirroring the longevity of other successful EA titles.
The approach to Apex Legends 2.0 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 the experiences of its competitors in the battle royale market.
Despite its current financial performance, Apex Legends remains a top-performing game on Steam in terms of concurrent players. However, its player count is significantly below its peak, highlighting the need for EA's revitalization efforts.
