In a recent earnings call, EA provided further insight into its future plans for the popular hero shooter Apex Legends and outlined what players can expect going forward.
No Apex Legends 2 in Sight as EA Prioritizes Player Retention
Apex Legends' Leading Position in the Hero Shooter Market Remains Vital for EA
As Apex Legends prepares to launch its 23rd season in early November, EA's flagship hero shooter continues to be a major player in the industry. However, since its 2019 debut, the game has seen a gradual decline in player engagement, leading it to fall short of revenue goals. EA now aims to address this through "fundamental changes."
Speaking during the Q2 earnings call, CEO Andrew Wilson addressed the game's performance, highlighting a "need for meaningful systematic innovation that fundamentally changes the way the game plays."
While falling numbers might suggest a potential sequel, Wilson's comments indicate no current plans for "Apex Legends 2." He emphasized the franchise's strong market position and the company's focus on revitalizing the existing title.
"We are currently managing the business's trajectory," said Wilson. "Given the brand's strength, the size of its global community, and its status as a top-tier free-to-play live service game, we are confident we can return it to growth over time."
Wilson noted that Season 22's underperformance helped EA identify key areas for ongoing improvement. "After adjusting the battle pass, we didn't see the expected increase in monetization," he explained. He then outlined two observations EA has made about the free-to-play FPS market:
"First, in today's competitive scene, factors like brand loyalty, a dedicated core audience, and high-quality gameplay are crucial. Apex has established itself as a compelling, enduring franchise," Wilson stated. "Second, achieving significant growth and re-engagement requires substantial systemic changes. We'll keep focusing on player retention and diverse content while working toward more innovative updates."
Ultimately, EA appears more committed to evolving the current Apex Legends than developing a sequel. "It's a good question, but what we've generally seen with large-scale live service games is that a 'Version 2' is rarely as successful as the original," Wilson added.
Innovative Seasonal Updates Planned for Apex Legends
Wilson stated that the current goal is to support the global player base by delivering "new, innovative, and creative content with each season." He also assured players that EA would safeguard their time and investment, ensuring future updates don't invalidate their progress.
"We never want to force our community to choose between their past investments and future innovations," he explained. "Our objective is to innovate within the core experience, which is why our seasons are growing in scope and introducing new ways to play."
Wilson confirmed that EA has already begun implementing changes to enhance the Apex Legends experience. Plans to counter declining engagement will involve introducing "new modes of play that go beyond the current core mechanics."
"We believe we can achieve both innovation and continuity without splitting the experience," he concluded. "The team is actively working on this approach."
