As *Apex Legends*, Respawn's popular battle royale, approaches its sixth anniversary, Electronic Arts (EA) has acknowledged that the game is underperforming financially. In a recent financial call discussing third-quarter results, EA revealed that *Apex Legends* net bookings were down compared to the previous year, though they met the company's expectations. During a Q&A session with analysts, EA CEO Andrew Wilson provided insights into the game's performance and future plans.
Wilson highlighted *Apex Legends*'s significant player base, noting that over 200 million people have played the game. However, he admitted that the game's business trajectory has not met EA's expectations. "Apex is probably one of the great new launches in our industry over the last decade and has been loved by that core cohort," Wilson said. "However, the trajectory of the business of that franchise has not been headed in the direction that we have wanted for some time."
To address these challenges, EA is focusing on three key areas: supporting the existing community with quality-of-life improvements, anti-cheat measures, and new content; testing and developing more engaging content; and planning a major update, dubbed *Apex Legends 2.0*. Wilson emphasized the importance of continuing to support the game's tens of millions of daily players while also working on this significant update.
*Apex Legends 2.0* is intended to reinvigorate the franchise, attract new players, and boost revenue. However, Wilson clarified that this update will not coincide with the release of the next *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.
"We do believe there will be a time where we need to do a more meaningful update of Apex as a broad game experience, and the team is diligently working on that," Wilson stated. He also expressed confidence in *Apex Legends*'s long-term potential, likening it to other EA franchises that have thrived for decades. "Our expectation is that Apex will also be one of those franchises and that sometime on a longer-term time horizon, there will be an even bigger, more meaningful update to that broader game experience, an Apex 2.0, if you will."
The approach to *Apex Legends 2.0* draws comparisons to Activision's *Call of Duty: Warzone*, which underwent a similar reboot in 2022. While the success of such a move remains uncertain, EA is keen to learn from its competitors in the battle royale genre as it seeks to expand *Apex Legends*'s player base.
Despite its financial challenges, *Apex Legends* remains a top-played game on Steam, though it has seen a decline from its peak concurrent player numbers. EA's commitment to the game's future, including the development of *Apex Legends 2.0*, reflects its belief in the franchise's enduring appeal and potential for growth.
