When did Apex Legends first release?
Apex Legends was released on February 4, 2019, and quickly became a Battle Royale phenomenon, launching simultaneously on PC, PS4, and Xbox One. Apex Legends was developed by Respawn Entertainment and published by EA. The game emerged during the peak of the Battle Royale frenzy, quickly gaining popularity despite the absence of a pre-launch marketing campaign apart from a leak of the iconic Apex Legends Logo.
When is Apex Legends set?
Apex Legends is set in the Titanfall universe crafted by Respawn Entertainment, where the action unfolds in the intense arena of the Apex Games, a televised blood sport overseen by Kuben Blisk, a prominent character from Titanfall 2, suggesting that the events of Apex Legends coincide with those of Titanfall 2. The game's unique setting contributed to its distinct appeal, garnering attention even without the traditional marketing hype.
Apex Legends kicked off with a diverse cast of eight playable Legends in its Pre-Season, also called Season 0. Originally, the game only counted eight Legends: Bangalore, Bloodhound, Gibraltar, Lifeline, Pathfinder, Wraith, Caustic, and Mirage. Each Legend had a different set of abilities. Caustic and Mirage were unlockable with 750 Legend tokens, while the other six Legends were free-to-play. Respawn Entertainment continued to boost the Legends roster, introducing a new Legend with each season after that. |
Despite the introduction of new Legends, the original cast from Season 0 maintained their popularity, standing among the most played across all ranks even after four years since the game's launch. Season 16, which started on February 14, 2023, was the first Season where a brand-new Legend was not released.
At launch, Apex Legends featured only one map, the iconic King's Canyon. Over the years, this map gained legendary status, earning the nickname "OG King's Canyon." Respawn Entertainment brought it back during the Genesis Collection Event for Season 13 in May 2021, evoking nostalgia among fans.
One of the surprising aspects of Apex Legends' launch was its lack of a pre-launch marketing campaign. In an interview, Lead Producer Drew McCoy acknowledged the unique circumstances surrounding the game's release, considering EA's recent controversy over loot boxes in Star Wars: Battlefront 2. McCoy stated, "Let's just ship the game and let players play," a decision that defied conventional marketing strategies during the era.
The absence of pre-launch marketing did not hinder Apex Legends' success. Positioned against the reigning Battle Royale giant, Fortnite, Apex Legends gained instant popularity, leveraging influencers on Twitch to generate interest. This strategic move became a precursor to the influencer-driven marketing strategies that would become more commonplace in the years that followed. Soon enough, gamers across the globe were calling Apex Legends the “Fortnite Killer.”
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When did Apex Legends Mobile come out?
The game's expansion continued with its release on Nintendo Switch on March 9, 2021, bringing the Apex Legends experience to a new platform two years after the initial launch on PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
Following the success of the Nintendo Switch version, Apex Legends Mobile made its global debut on May 17, 2022, for Android and iOS. Before the global release, it had a limited regional launch in ten countries.
However, EA announced the impending shutdown of Apex Legends Mobile on May 1, 2023, just a few months after its global release. The decision to shut down the mobile version was attributed to the content pipeline falling short of the expected quality, quantity, and cadence. Despite the announcement, dedicated fans have rallied with the hashtag #SaveApexMobile on Twitter, expressing their disappointment and boosting the efforts to preserve the mobile title's legacy.
The history of Apex Legends is marked by successful releases and out-of-the-box solutions for common challenges. The gaming community remains curious about Apex Legends' future and how Respawn Entertainment and EA will surprise us next.
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