EA Plans Apex Legends 2.0 Release Post-Battlefield Amid Business Challenges

As *Apex Legends*, Respawn Entertainment’s acclaimed battle royale title, approaches its sixth anniversary, Electronic Arts (EA) has acknowledged that the game is underperforming financially. Despite its massive player base and cultural impact, EA admits that the game's revenue trajectory has not met internal expectations, prompting the company to begin planning what it refers to as *Apex Legends 2.0*.

During a recent financial call discussing EA’s Q3 results, CEO Andrew Wilson confirmed that *Apex Legends* net bookings declined year-over-year, although they aligned with the company’s projections. When questioned about the state of the franchise, Wilson praised the game's legacy and community while being candid about its business challenges.

“Apex is probably one of the great new launches in our industry over the last decade and has been loved by that core cohort and we've had over 200 million people play the game,” 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.”

Wilson went on to explain that the development team is focusing on three key areas: enhancing the experience for the existing player base through quality-of-life improvements and anti-cheat measures, expanding content offerings, and building toward a more substantial evolution of the game. While there have been positive signs, he admitted progress hasn’t been as strong as hoped.

Apex Legends 2.0: A Fresh Direction

To revitalize the franchise and improve its financial performance, EA is reportedly developing *Apex Legends 2.0*—a major update aimed at reinvigorating gameplay, attracting new players, and boosting monetization. However, this update won't be released alongside the next *Battlefield* title, which is expected before April 2026. Instead, Wilson indicated that *Apex Legends 2.0* will launch after that, likely during EA’s fiscal year ending March 2027.

He emphasized that the team remains committed to supporting the current player base, which still numbers in the tens of millions. The long-term vision includes continued investment in competitive players and efforts to bring in new audiences. Wilson also hinted that *Apex Legends 2.0* may not be the final major transformation of the franchise, suggesting future updates could follow a similar scale.

Lessons from the Battle Royale Market

The planned overhaul draws comparisons to Activision’s approach with *Warzone*, which launched *Warzone 2.0* in 2022. While the reboot introduced fresh mechanics and maps, many fans continue to favor the original version. EA will likely take such feedback into account when shaping *Apex Legends 2.0*, especially given the sensitivity of changes in long-running free-to-play titles.

Despite declining trends in peak concurrent player counts, *Apex Legends* continues to rank among the most-played games on Steam. However, its overall trend suggests it is moving closer to record lows on the platform, underscoring the urgency behind EA’s strategic shift.