EA Plans Apex Legends 2.0 Post-Battlefield Release

As *Apex Legends*, Respawn's popular battle royale game, approaches its sixth anniversary, Electronic Arts (EA) has expressed concerns over its financial performance. During a financial call discussing the third quarter results, EA revealed that *Apex Legends* net bookings were down year-over-year, albeit in line with their expectations. In a candid discussion with analysts, EA CEO Andrew Wilson admitted that while *Apex Legends* boasts a massive player base of over 200 million, the game's revenue trajectory has not met the company's expectations for some time.

Wilson highlighted the continuous efforts to support the game's dedicated community, which includes tens of millions of daily players. These efforts encompass quality-of-life improvements, anti-cheat measures, and the creation of new content. Despite these initiatives, Wilson acknowledged that the progress has been less than satisfactory.

In response to these challenges, EA is planning a significant update, dubbed *Apex Legends 2.0*. This update aims to reinvigorate the franchise, attract new players, and ultimately boost the game's profitability. However, Wilson emphasized that they do not plan to release *Apex Legends 2.0* concurrently 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 expressed confidence in the long-term potential of *Apex Legends*, drawing parallels with other long-lasting EA franchises. He envisions *Apex Legends* as a game that can thrive for decades, with *Apex Legends 2.0* marking a significant milestone in its evolution, but not its final form. The development team remains committed to the game, continuing to invest in the core community while planning for a more substantial update post-*Battlefield* launch.

The concept of *Apex Legends 2.0* bears some resemblance to Activision's approach with *Call of Duty: Warzone*, which underwent a 2.0 update in 2022. While the success of such a strategy remains uncertain, EA is undoubtedly aware of the competitive landscape in the battle royale genre as they strive to expand *Apex Legends'* player base.

Despite these financial concerns, *Apex Legends* continues to be a top-played game on Steam based on concurrent player counts. However, it has yet to surpass its peak on Valve's platform and is currently on a path toward record lows. EA's focus on *Apex Legends 2.0* reflects their commitment to revitalizing the game and ensuring its longevity in the highly competitive gaming market.