EA Plans Apex Legends 2.0 Post-Battlefield

As Respawn's battle royale game, Apex Legends, approaches its sixth anniversary, Electronic Arts (EA) has expressed concerns over its financial performance. During a financial call discussing third-quarter results, EA reported that net bookings for Apex Legends had declined year-over-year, yet met the company's expectations.

In a Q&A session with analysts, EA CEO Andrew Wilson provided insights into the game's situation. He acknowledged Apex Legends as a significant launch in the gaming industry over the last decade, attracting over 200 million players. However, he noted that the business trajectory of the franchise has not been satisfactory for some time. Despite ongoing efforts to support the community and introduce new content, Wilson admitted that the progress has been less than desired.

To address these financial challenges, EA is planning a major update, referred to as Apex Legends 2.0. This update aims to revitalize the franchise, attract more players, and increase revenue. However, Wilson clarified that the release of Apex Legends 2.0 will not coincide with the upcoming Battlefield game, expected before April 2026. Instead, Apex Legends 2.0 is slated for release sometime during EA’s 2027 fiscal year, ending in March 2027.

Wilson emphasized the long-term vision for Apex Legends, highlighting EA's track record of nurturing franchises that endure for decades. He expressed confidence that Apex Legends would follow suit, with plans for a significant update beyond Apex Legends 2.0. The team remains committed to supporting the core community, which consists of tens of millions of players, and is actively working on what the future update will entail.

The concept of Apex Legends 2.0 draws parallels to Activision's approach with Call of Duty: Warzone, which underwent a 2.0 update in 2022. While the effectiveness of Warzone's update remains debated among fans, EA is likely considering the lessons learned by competitors in the battle royale genre as they plan to expand Apex Legends' player base.

Apex Legends continues to rank among the top-played games on Steam, based on concurrent player counts. However, its popularity on Valve's platform has declined from its peak, and it is currently on a path toward setting new lows.