I still vividly recall the launch of Apex Legends back in February 2019, when developer Respawn Entertainment surprised the gaming community by releasing it seemingly out of nowhere. Although whispers of a Titanfall-related battle royale had been circulating, the game managed to make its debut with minimal fanfare, aside from some last-minute buzz from preview events. Fast forward to today, and Apex Legends continues to hold a prominent position among the top five most-played games on Steam. Remarkably, after a period of slight stagnation, it is now experiencing a resurgence.
Recent Player Milestones
This past weekend, on Saturday, April 11, the player count for Apex Legends on Steam surpassed the 300,000 mark for the first time in 20 months, coinciding with the launch of Season 22 on August 7, 2024. While it’s easy to focus solely on Steam metrics, which are not the definitive measure of a game’s success, the upward trend is evident. After reaching impressive highs in 2023 and 2024, the player numbers had dipped following the Season 25 spike, with the last four season launches recording lower figures than their predecessors.
Season 28 commenced in February with the lowest launch numbers since Season 8 in February 2021, shortly after the game transitioned from EA’s Origin app to Steam. However, witnessing a steady climb since then, with a remarkable 50% increase from its initial weekend to the current peak, reflects the diligent efforts of Respawn to enhance the game and engage with its player base.
Community Engagement and Improvements
In recent months, Respawn has taken a proactive approach in addressing issues such as cheating and server performance. The studio has implemented strict measures against third-party devices and cheats, regularly updating the community with ban statistics to showcase their progress. Frequent updates and patch notes have kept players informed, while ‘ask me anything’ forum discussions have facilitated open dialogue regarding major patches and community feedback.
The recent crossover with Gundam has also contributed to a positive atmosphere among players. Notably, the increase in player count is occurring midway through a season, a time typically reserved for peaks at the start. Discussions on Reddit reveal a largely favorable sentiment towards the current state of the game, with many players expressing satisfaction. One user noted, “It’s in a good place now, been very fun,” while another remarked, “The game is honestly a lot better now.” A third comment attributed the improvement to “loads of small but good quality-of-life changes over the last six months.”
Community Sentiment
One user, ‘Revolutionary_Cap442,’ encapsulated the prevailing community sentiment, highlighting the impact of “consistent quality updates, listening to feedback, and being quick about fixing issues.” They praised Respawn’s transparency in tackling cheating and server challenges, as well as the studio’s focus on making all weapons and characters enjoyable rather than simply adding new content.
In a landscape filled with competitive multiplayer games, from newcomers like Arc Raiders and Marathon to the revitalization of Overwatch and the emergence of Marvel Rivals, alongside enduring favorites like Counter-Strike 2 and Rainbow Six Siege, Apex Legends remains a standout. While battle royales may not capture everyone’s interest, Apex has consistently drawn players in, and Respawn’s commitment to innovation and community engagement suggests that the game still has much to offer.
