EA's recent financial call revealed that despite its massive player base (over 200 million players), Apex Legends isn't meeting revenue expectations. EA CEO Andrew Wilson acknowledged the game's success but highlighted the need for improvement in its financial trajectory. While ongoing support, including quality-of-life updates and anti-cheat measures, continues, the company is focusing on three key areas for development. These include continued community support, creation of new content, and a major game update, dubbed Apex Legends 2.0.
This significant update, Apex Legends 2.0, aims to revitalize the franchise, attract new players, and boost revenue. However, its release is planned for after the next Battlefield game, likely sometime in EA's 2027 fiscal year. Wilson emphasized EA's long-term commitment to Apex Legends, envisioning it as a franchise with a lifespan of decades, with Apex 2.0 representing a significant but not final evolution of the game. EA's strategy involves sustained investment in the existing player base while simultaneously working on a major update to broaden the appeal and attract new players.
The planned overhaul draws parallels to Call of Duty Warzone's 2.0 update, although the reception to that update remains a point of discussion among fans. While Apex Legends remains a top performer on Steam in terms of concurrent players, its player count is declining, underscoring the need for EA's strategic intervention.