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. The company's third-quarter financial report revealed that while Apex Legends met revenue expectations, net bookings were down year-on-year. This prompted EA CEO Andrew Wilson to address the game's financial trajectory during an analyst Q&A.

Wilson confirmed Apex Legends' immense popularity, boasting over 200 million players. However, he candidly admitted that the game's revenue isn't meeting EA's targets. He highlighted ongoing efforts to improve the core experience through quality-of-life updates, anti-cheat measures, and new content, acknowledging that progress has been slower than desired.

EA's solution? A significant overhaul dubbed "Apex Legends 2.0." This update aims to revitalize the franchise, attract new players, and, crucially, boost revenue. However, strategic timing is key. Wilson confirmed that Apex Legends 2.0's release will follow the launch of the next Battlefield game (anticipated before April 2026), likely falling within EA's 2027 fiscal year.

Wilson emphasized EA's long-term commitment to Apex Legends, envisioning it as a franchise capable of lasting decades. He described Apex 2.0 not as a final iteration, but a significant step in the game's evolution, designed to attract both existing and new players. The company plans to continue investing in the core community while simultaneously preparing for a major update post-Battlefield launch.

This "2.0" approach mirrors Activision's strategy with Call of Duty: Warzone, although the reception of Warzone 2.0 remains a point of discussion among fans. EA will undoubtedly be studying the performance of its battle royale competitors as it navigates this crucial update for Apex Legends.

While Apex Legends maintains a strong presence on Steam's concurrent player count charts, it's significantly below its peak and trending towards record lows. This underscores the urgency and importance of EA's planned revitalization strategy.