Apex Legends 2.0: EA Ramps Up Development Post-Battlefield

EA Announces Apex Legends 2.0 to Revitalize Underperforming Battle Royale

As Apex Legends approaches its sixth anniversary, Electronic Arts (EA) has acknowledged the game's underperformance in terms of revenue, despite maintaining a substantial player base. During a recent financial call, EA CEO Andrew Wilson revealed plans for a major overhaul dubbed "Apex Legends 2.0."

While Apex Legends boasts over 200 million players and remains a significant title, Wilson stated that its current trajectory isn't meeting EA's financial expectations. He emphasized the company's ongoing commitment to the existing community through content updates, quality-of-life improvements, and anti-cheat measures. However, he admitted that these efforts haven't yielded the desired results.

Apex Legends 2.0 is envisioned as a substantial update aimed at reinvigorating the franchise, attracting new players, and ultimately boosting revenue. Wilson clarified that the launch of Apex Legends 2.0 will be strategically timed to avoid overlapping with the release of the next Battlefield title, anticipated before April 2026. Therefore, Apex Legends 2.0 is likely slated for release sometime during EA's 2027 fiscal year.

Wilson expressed confidence in the long-term viability of Apex Legends, highlighting EA's track record of cultivating enduring franchises. He anticipates Apex Legends 2.0 to be a significant, but not final, update, emphasizing continued investment in the existing tens of millions of players and the potential to attract new audiences.

The planned overhaul bears resemblance to Activision's 2022 reboot of Call of Duty's Warzone 2.0. While the success of that strategy remains debated, EA will undoubtedly learn from the experiences of its competitors in the competitive battle royale market.

Despite its current trajectory, Apex Legends remains a top-performing game on Steam in terms of concurrent players. However, its player count has significantly declined from its peak, prompting EA's strategic response with Apex Legends 2.0.