As Respawn's battle royale game, Apex Legends, approaches its sixth anniversary, Electronic Arts (EA) has acknowledged that the game is underperforming financially. In a recent financial call discussing their third-quarter results, EA revealed that Apex Legends' net bookings (revenue) have declined year-over-year, although they met the company's expectations. During a Q&A session with analysts, EA's CEO, Andrew Wilson, candidly addressed the game's performance, stating that despite its massive player base of over 200 million, Apex Legends isn't generating the revenue EA desires.

Wilson praised the game's launch as one of the industry's standout successes in the last decade and highlighted the dedication of its core community. However, he admitted that the franchise's business trajectory has been less than ideal for some time. EA has been experimenting with various approaches to support and enhance the game, focusing on quality-of-life improvements, anti-cheat measures, and new content. Despite these efforts, Wilson noted that the progress hasn't been as significant as hoped.

To address the financial challenges, EA is planning a major overhaul, dubbed Apex Legends 2.0. This update aims to rejuvenate the franchise, attract new players, and boost revenue. Wilson emphasized that the release of Apex Legends 2.0 will be timed carefully, avoiding overlap with the next Battlefield game, expected before April 2026. Thus, Apex Legends 2.0 is slated for release sometime during EA's fiscal year ending March 2027.

Wilson expressed confidence in the long-term potential of Apex Legends, likening it to other EA franchises that have thrived for decades. He assured that the development team remains committed to the game and its community, which still boasts tens of millions of players. Looking further ahead, EA anticipates even more substantial updates to the game, envisioning Apex Legends as a franchise that will continue to grow and evolve.

The concept of Apex Legends 2.0 bears some resemblance to Activision's approach with Call of Duty's Warzone, which underwent a significant update in 2022. While the success of Warzone's reboot remains debated among fans, EA is mindful of competitor strategies in the battle royale market as they seek to expand Apex Legends' player base.

Currently, Apex Legends ranks among the top-played games on Steam based on concurrent player counts, though it has not yet reached its peak numbers on Valve's platform and is trending toward record lows. EA's focus on Apex Legends 2.0 reflects their commitment to revitalizing this beloved game and ensuring its longevity in the competitive gaming landscape.