Apex Legends, once a juggernaut in the battle royale genre, is currently facing a sharp decline in player numbers. Recent data reveals that the player count has dropped to its lowest point since February 2021. Even though Season 22 introduced new modes, skins, and meta changes, these adjustments haven’t been enough to reverse the downward trend. With a brand-new event launching next Tuesday, called the Mania World Event, the question arises: will this be enough to save Apex Legends from its current slump?
Why Apex Legends Is Losing Players
The declining player base isn’t simply a result of a lack of new content. In fact, Apex Legends is halfway through Season 22, which has introduced fresh modes like E-District and notable meta changes, such as buffs to Crypto and weapons like the Mozambique. However, despite these changes, the community has voiced concerns about issues plaguing the game.
For one, many players feel that the focus on cosmetics and monetization, rather than gameplay improvements, has led to the current rut. As of now, the game’s peak player count is lower than in any season since 2021. With EA’s history of making drastic changes when games underperform, there are concerns that Apex Legends could be at risk if things don’t improve.
Upcoming Event: The Mania World Event
The Mania World Event is scheduled to launch on September 17th, and while new content usually excites the community, there’s skepticism about this one. According to an article from Sportskeeda, the event will include 42 new skins and cosmetics. However, the catch is that it’s a milestone event, which means players won’t be able to acquire the main reward by purchasing packs outright. Instead, they’ll need to rely on gacha mechanics, buying packs and hoping for luck.
These types of events, which many consider predatory due to their heavy focus on monetization, have been a frequent complaint among the player base. It’s no wonder that player sentiment has soured, as these events seem more focused on generating revenue than providing enjoyable and rewarding gameplay experiences.
In addition to the skins and cosmetics, the Agnostic Kit will be introduced, a universal heirloom that can be used by all legends. However, this also comes with its own controversies. Fans who have been waiting for heirlooms for specific characters, like Newcastle, will have to continue waiting, as the universal heirloom takes precedence.
Duos Mode and New LTM: Knockout
One bright spot in the upcoming event is the return of Duos Mode, which has been a fan favorite. However, its return is limited to the duration of the event, and there’s no confirmation of how long it will be available. This temporary reintroduction has left some players disappointed, as they had hoped for a permanent addition to the game.
Also coming with the Mania World Event is a new Limited-Time Mode (LTM) called Knockout. This mode shifts away from traditional battle royale gameplay, focusing instead on team-based capture points. Teams will fight for control of various zones, earning points through kills and squad wipes. At the end of each round, the five lowest-scoring teams are eliminated, with the final squad standing declared the winner.
While Apex Legends has dabbled with LTMs before, the success of Knockout remains to be seen. Given the game’s current state, introducing a new mode is a step in the right direction, but many in the community believe deeper issues must be addressed to truly reinvigorate the player base.
Concerns from the Community
The frustration of the Apex Legends community extends beyond event structure and gameplay modes. There’s a sense that the game is experiencing an identity crisis. Prominent figures in the community, like ImperialHal, have expressed concerns about the lack of progression and purpose in the current rank system. In response to a post from HisWattson asking what could improve Apex Legends, Hal noted that a “more challenging rank system” and “a bigger purpose to play” would make a significant difference.
Players also feel burned by the lack of meaningful rewards. For 17 seasons, the ranked rewards have remained largely the same, leading to stagnation in player motivation. Dive trails, once a sought-after rank reward, were removed, leaving little to strive for. Combined with the ongoing issue of cheaters, many players no longer feel incentivized to grind ranked mode or continue playing as regularly as they once did.
Respawn’s response to these issues has been mixed. While they’ve made some changes—such as splitting the battle pass into two parts for Season 22—it’s unclear if these efforts are enough to bring players back. Splitting the battle pass may seem like an attempt to offer more reasons to play, but players have expressed that it doesn’t add real value. Many can complete the battle pass without much difficulty, and splitting it doesn’t provide any additional incentive beyond possible monetization benefits for the developers.
Buffs, Nerfs, and Mid-Season Updates
On the gameplay side, Apex Legends continues to balance its legends and weapons. The upcoming mid-season update will bring buffs and nerfs to several characters and weapons. For example, the Mozambique will likely receive a nerf due to its perceived overpowered status this season, though there’s conflicting information about the extent of this nerf. Additionally, the R-99 will receive changes, while Havoc will no longer require the Turbocharger attachment.
However, many players feel these changes are minor in comparison to the larger issues. Popular YouTuber The Gaming Merchant recently discussed how these small balance tweaks won’t move the needle enough to bring back the droves of players who have left. While long-time players will appreciate these changes, they are unlikely to draw in new players or significantly impact the declining player count.
Hypebeast Skins and Future Events
Another highlight of the event is the introduction of Hypebeast skins for every legend in the game. These highly stylized skins, including one for Caustic that has already garnered attention, may excite collectors, but again, they represent a push toward cosmetic monetization over meaningful gameplay content.
Looking ahead, Apex Legends is also planning a Halloween event, which has historically been one of the more popular seasonal events. The Halloween-themed events tend to attract more players, thanks to unique game modes and limited-time cosmetics.
For more information on Apex Legends events and updates, visit Sportskeeda’s Apex Legends page.
As Season 22 continues and the Mania World Event draws near, the big question remains: can Apex Legends reverse its decline and regain its former glory? The game faces an uphill battle, and while the upcoming content might appease the current player base, larger changes are needed to bring back the thousands of players who have left the game.
