EA's Recent Earnings Call Reveals No Plans for Apex Legends 2, Focusing Instead on Revitalizing the Existing Game

EA's recent financial report sheds light on their strategy for the popular battle royale, Apex Legends. Despite a recent decline in player engagement and missed revenue targets, EA has confirmed that an Apex Legends 2 is not currently in development. Instead, the company is prioritizing significant, systemic improvements to the original game.

Apex Legends Remains a Top Performer, Despite Challenges

Approaching its 23rd season, Apex Legends remains a leading title in the hero shooter genre. However, EA acknowledges a need for "meaningful systematic innovation" to reverse the decline in player engagement that has impacted revenue. CEO Andrew Wilson emphasized the importance of the game's current market position and the strength of its established player base. He stated that EA believes in the brand's potential for future growth, focusing on retaining the existing community rather than creating a sequel. The underperformance of Season 22's battle pass highlighted the need for substantial changes.

Prioritizing Player Retention and Incremental Innovation

Wilson highlighted two key observations shaping EA's approach: the crucial role of brand recognition, a strong player base, and core gameplay mechanics in the competitive market; and the necessity of significant, systemic changes to drive re-engagement and growth. The company intends to focus on player retention and consistent content delivery, introducing innovative changes gradually, season by season. This approach aims to avoid forcing players to abandon their progress or investment in the existing game.

Future Updates Will Focus on Core Gameplay Improvements

EA's strategy involves continuous improvement of the core Apex Legends experience, introducing innovative updates in each season. Wilson confirmed that these changes will be implemented without requiring players to restart their progress. The company is exploring "different modalities of play" to expand the game's appeal while maintaining its core mechanics.

In essence, EA's strategy focuses on organically evolving Apex Legends rather than creating a complete reboot. The company is confident that this approach will be more successful in the long run than launching a sequel.