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 while the game's trajectory hasn't been ideal, EA is actively working to address the issue.

Wilson highlighted three key areas of focus: continued community support (including quality-of-life improvements and anti-cheat measures), the creation of new content, and a significant game update dubbed "Apex Legends 2.0."

This Apex Legends 2.0 update, while not yet dated, is planned for release after the next Battlefield title (anticipated before April 2026), likely sometime in EA's 2027 fiscal year. The aim is to revitalize the franchise, attract new players, and ultimately boost revenue. EA envisions Apex Legends as a long-term franchise, similar to its other successful titles, with the potential for even more significant updates in the future.

The strategy mirrors Activision's approach with Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0, although the reception to that reboot remains a point of discussion. EA will undoubtedly learn from the successes and failures of competitors in the battle royale market. While Apex Legends maintains a strong presence on Steam's concurrent player count, it's significantly below its peak, highlighting the need for EA's planned revitalization.