Apex Legends developer Respawn has backed down within the face of intense participant displeasure and scrapped its plan to make the sport’s battle move purchasable with actual cash solely.
Early in July, the developer introduced a restructured battle move that was to start out alongside the sport’s subsequent season, season 22. Within the plan, there could be a brand new battle move each half-season, somewhat than each season, and Respawn would take away the choice to purchase a battle move with 950 Apex Cash, the sport’s premium forex. The brand new value could be $9.99.
It was the latter change that notably angered gamers. Though Apex Cash will be purchased for actual cash, and 950 Apex Cash are value round $10, the forex will also be earned in-game, and it has at all times been doable to earn sufficient Apex Cash from one battle move to purchase the following one. Gamers responded by review-bombing Apex Legends on Steam; latest evaluations at the moment are “overwhelmingly adverse,” and the sport has been hit with over 75,000 adverse evaluations up to now 30 days.
“You’ve spoken, and we’ve listened,” Respawn stated in a observe posted to X. “With the discharge of Season 22 we are going to restore the flexibility to get the Premium Battle Go for 950 Apex Cash. We acknowledge that we may have dealt with the Battle Go adjustments higher — that’s on us.”
By means of apology, Respawn stated it might additionally make the primary season 22 battle move successfully free, unlockable by “finishing a collection of straightforward in-game challenges.” It additionally pledged that, from the second half of season 22, it might as soon as once more be doable to earn sufficient Apex Cash from one move to get the following one.
Respawn didn’t reverse its choice to maneuver to 2 battle passes per season, nevertheless — successfully doubling the out there rewards, however doubling the price to gamers, too. The studio additionally stored the highest tier of battle move, now generally known as Final+, as a real-money-only buy priced at $19.99. The developer printed an infographic detailing the revised battle move construction.
“Shifting ahead, we acknowledge that we should be extra well timed, clear, and constant in our communications with you,” Respawn stated, earlier than pledging motion on different points vital to gamers corresponding to cheaters, sport stability, and quality-of-life updates. “We have to get higher and that’s why we’re acknowledging [these issues] right here,” the studio stated.
Respawn promised the primary of those fixes would drop alongside Season 22 when it launches on Aug. 6.
