EA's recent earnings call shed light on the future of Apex Legends, addressing player concerns and outlining their strategic direction. The company confirmed that, despite recent performance dips, an Apex Legends 2 isn't on the horizon.
Apex Legends' Continued Dominance: A Focus on Retention
Apex Legends' Leading Position Remains Crucial for EA
Entering its 23rd season in early November, Apex Legends remains a popular title, yet player engagement has declined since its 2019 launch. This has resulted in missed revenue targets, prompting EA to announce "fundamental changes."
EA CEO Andrew Wilson acknowledged the performance challenges, highlighting the need for "meaningful systematic innovation" to revitalize gameplay. While a decline might suggest an "Apex Legends 2," Wilson emphasized their commitment to the existing game due to its strong market position. He stated their focus is on managing the current trajectory, leveraging the brand's strength and community size to return to growth.
The underperformance of Season 22, particularly concerning monetization following battle pass changes, spurred EA's reevaluation. Wilson identified two key observations within the free-to-play FPS market: Apex Legends' compelling franchise status and the need for substantial changes to drive significant growth and re-engagement. Their strategy emphasizes player retention and content breadth while developing more innovative changes.
Wilson directly addressed the possibility of an Apex Legends 2, stating that, based on their experience with large-scale live service games, Version 2 rarely surpasses the success of the original. Their priority is enhancing the existing game rather than creating a sequel.
Season-by-Season Innovation: A Commitment to Continuous Improvement
EA's focus is on providing ongoing support and innovative content for Apex Legends on a season-by-season basis. Wilson assured players that their progress and investment will be protected, ensuring that future changes won't require players to abandon their existing progress. Innovation will be integrated into the core experience, building upon existing gameplay rather than forcing a complete overhaul. This season-by-season approach will involve progressively larger seasons with significant gameplay modifications.
EA is already implementing these changes, exploring new gameplay modalities beyond the current core mechanics. Their aim is to achieve both innovation and player retention simultaneously, avoiding the need to separate the experience.
