EA Plans Apex Legends 2.0 Post-Battlefield Release Amid Declining Sales

As Respawn's battle royale sensation Apex Legends approaches its sixth birthday, Electronic Arts (EA) has publicly acknowledged that the game is underperforming financially. During a recent financial call discussing third-quarter results, EA revealed that while Apex Legends' net bookings were down year-over-year, they still met the company's expectations. In a candid Q&A session with analysts, EA CEO Andrew Wilson emphasized the game's significant player base, which exceeds 200 million, but admitted that the franchise's financial trajectory has not met EA's goals for some time.

Wilson highlighted EA's ongoing efforts to enhance the game, focusing on three key areas: supporting the dedicated community, improving quality of life and anti-cheat measures, and developing new content. Despite these efforts, he acknowledged that the progress has been slower than desired. To address these financial challenges, EA is planning a major update, dubbed Apex Legends 2.0, aimed at revitalizing the franchise, attracting new players, and boosting revenue.

The CEO clarified that Apex Legends 2.0 will not launch alongside the upcoming Battlefield game, expected before April 2026. Instead, the update is slated for release sometime during EA's fiscal year ending March 2027. Wilson expressed confidence in the long-term potential of Apex Legends, drawing parallels with other long-lasting EA franchises and suggesting that future updates could further expand the game's appeal and community.

This strategy echoes Activision's approach with Call of Duty's Warzone, which saw a significant update with Warzone 2.0 in 2022. While the success of such moves can be debated, EA is keen to learn from its competitors in the competitive battle royale market. Despite its enduring popularity, evidenced by its strong concurrent player count on Steam, Apex Legends is seeing a decline from its peak performance on the platform, prompting EA to act swiftly to rejuvenate the game's financial health.