Apex Legends Battle Pass Changes Were a Big Whoopsie So Respawn Reverses Course

Respawn Entertainment Backtracks on Controversial Apex Legends Battle Pass Changes

Following a significant player backlash, Respawn Entertainment has reversed its planned changes to the Apex Legends battle pass system. The proposed changes, announced earlier this month, were met with widespread criticism and negative reviews.

The original plan introduced a two-part battle pass, requiring separate $9.99 purchases mid-season, eliminating the option to buy the premium pass with in-game Apex Coins. This sparked outrage among players who felt the changes were exploitative and lacked transparency.

Respawn's U-Turn and the Revised System

In a recent announcement on X (formerly Twitter), Respawn confirmed the reversal of these changes. The Season 22 update, launching August 6th, will retain the original battle pass structure:

• Free Battle Pass: A free tier with some rewards.
• Premium Battle Pass: Available for 950 Apex Coins.
• Ultimate and Ultimate+ Editions: Paid tiers, priced at $9.99 and $19.99 respectively. Payment is required once per season for all tiers.

Respawn acknowledged communication failures and pledged to improve transparency in future updates. They emphasized their commitment to addressing player concerns, including combating cheaters, improving game stability, and implementing quality-of-life updates. Patch notes for Season 22, detailing stability improvements and bug fixes, are expected on August 5th.

The Community's Response and its Impact

The initial announcement generated a torrent of negative feedback across various platforms, including X and the Apex Legends subreddit. The Steam page for Apex Legends was flooded with negative reviews, highlighting the intensity of player dissatisfaction.

While the reversal is welcomed, the incident underscores the importance of developer-community communication and the potential consequences of ignoring player feedback. Respawn's response, while a positive step, will need to be followed by consistent improvements to regain full player trust. The upcoming patch notes will be closely scrutinized.