EA to Expand Apex Legends Universe

EA and Respawn want to extend the Apex Legends Universe in 2024

EA and Respawn are about to launch Apex Legends into the entertainment industry stratosphere in a strategic move towards an extended Apex Legends universe. Eletronic Arts has revealed plans to lead the popular battle royale game "beyond the traditional battle royale universe" in 2024. Speaking at the Morgan Stanley Technology, Media & Telecom Conference, EA CEO Andrew Wilson expressed optimism about the growth potential for Respawn's online multiplayer battle-royale game, Apex Legends, which had its fifth anniversary in February.

During the current year, we can expect EA to boost their investment in Apex Legends to take it from being a major name in the names of online games to a spot on other types of entertainment. After Riot Games and Netflix joined forces to bring League of Legends to Netflix, creating one of the most successful shows in the streaming platform’s history, it might be Apex Legends’ turn to hit a different kind of screen.

Apex Legends, considered one of the most successful new game IP launches in the last 10–15 years, has amassed a formidable community of "hundreds of millions of players," according to EA and Respawn, with an impressive 75% retention rate over its five-year existence. Wilson acknowledged the inherent cyclical nature of franchise growth but emphasized the substantial number of people making up the engaged global community formed around Apex Legends.

Looking ahead, Wilson outlined EA's strategic vision for expanding the franchise over the next 5–10 years. The initial focus is on boosting accessibility, making the game more appealing to new players, and subsequently tailoring it to be culturally relevant in diverse markets.

While Apex Legends has earned acclaim for its core gameplay and is famous for its challenging nature, Wilson highlighted the importance of making it more welcoming to new players. Season 20 serves as a testament to this approach, aiming to drive acquisition and engagement with promising early results.

Long-term players describe Apex Legends Season 20: Breakout, the latest season launched in February, as the "most fluid, fast-paced, and rewarding" season in years. The emphasis on simplicity and reducing barriers to player interaction has been central to the game's evolution.

As the Apex Legends franchise enters its next phase, Wilson outlines plans to explore new game modes, like the most recent “The Hunt LTM," intending to move beyond the traditional battle royale format. This expansion aims to provide a more varied and engaging experience for players in 2024.

The next phase in EA's strategy involves broader culturalization, particularly targeting markets in Europe and Asia where the game has yet to make as big of an impact as EA would like. Acknowledging there’s a lot of untapped potential, Wilson believes in the growth of Apex by adapting the game to new user preferences, adding diverse in-game activities, expanding game mechanics, and culturally tailoring the experience.

In a recent interview with Respawn developers, the consensus was that Apex Legends is set for continuous growth and evolution over the next five years. Mike Renner, a game design director at the studio, emphasized the dynamic nature of the game, anticipating that Apex in five years will be unrecognizable when compared to its current state. The developers expressed a collective desire to boost the game's continued growth, hoping to transform Apex Legends into an inclusive space for a broader audience.

Josh Mohan, lead battle royale designer, acknowledged the game's reputation for being a challenging and competitive experience. While preserving the core competitive nature, he aspires for Apex Legends to become a vast space, inviting more players to participate.

Devan McGuire, Lead Legends designer, emphasized the importance of maintaining the game's strength and competitiveness while aiming to discover the meta. McGuire's ideal scenario involves making the game more approachable over the next five years, catering to a wider audience seeking success in the game.

A new chapter of Apex Legends history begins! EA is taking us to a future where the famous online multiplayer battle royale goes way beyond being just a game, and we can barely wait to find out what’s next!

 

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