Apex Legends
Apex Legends has been out for just three months, but what was considered the only true potential rival to Fortnite in ages already seems to be fading in popularity. And now analysts are saying that the game has not boosted EA’s fortunes as much as originally anticipated.
Seeking Alpha has some harsh words for EA and Apex Legends, noting that interest in the game has dropped dramatically in both Twitch viewership, Google searches and the number of big-name streamers still playing, many of whom have switched back to Fortnite.
It was well-documented that EA paid a number of high profile streamers from DrDisrespect to Ninja to stream the game at launch, but it seemed like a solid enough title where many of them kept streaming long after they were no longer being paid because players liked it and it was fun. But Seeking Alpha notes that with many streamers switching back to Fortnite, many players have followed suit as well, and they predict that a game that was supposed to add $7.4 billion to EA’s overall value may instead only bring in $1.8 to $2.4 billion instead.
What’s happened to Apex Legends? Nothing, and that’s kind of the problem. The game is still fun, it still has solid fundamentals and fantastic gameplay. And yet there are two reasons that Fortnite has not lost its crown to it and interest is fading in Apex.
Apex Legends
First, Respawn has simply not been able to keep up with the pace of updates that Fortnite produces on a regular basis. At any given time, Fortnite has Solos, Duos, Squads and about 3-4 other special modes to play in. Fortnite adds at least one new gun or vehicle or item to the game per week and is constantly altering its map with new additions or weird mysteries (currently, runes activating some sort of giant alien device on the map).
Apex, in contrast, has added little to the game since launch. In three months we have seen exactly one new weapon added to the game, and one new character, Octane, as well-received as he might have been. There is still exactly one single mode to play in Apex, squads, as forget special LTMs, the game still doesn’t even have duos or solos. The map hasn’t changed, and the most significant addition to the game since launch has been an extra form of monetization with the underwhelming battle pass. Fortnite has never stopped sprinting at full speed while Apex feels like it has taken months to work its way up to a slow jog.
The other main reason Fortnite has been able to lure pros away is not because EA ran out of marketing money, but because Epic is drowning players in potential Fortnite World Cup cash, part of its $100 million esports prize pool for the year, something that no other game can even come close to. Epic throws random tournaments every other week giving out $500,00-$1 million easily, which is often more than the esports budget for entire games, and the World Cup has made every pro get back into Fortnite for qualifiers and a shot at part of the $30 million prize pool for that event alone.
Sure, Apex could indeed form its own esports presence…someday, but the game needs a lot more features for that to be viable, and it’s nowhere close to reaching the structure and organization and cash offerings that Epic has with Fortnite.
Apex Legends
These may be unfair comparisons, given that Fortnite has been a global hit for over a year now and Epic has money to burn as a result, and yet the market was treating Apex Legends like doom had come for Fortnite at last, a typically reactionary move from investors who often seem to understand practically nothing about the industry they’re investing in.
Apex is a hit for EA, that much is clear. It’s the fastest-growing game in the history of games which does not count for nothing. But staying power is another matter entirely, and coming after a king like Fortnite is fraught with peril and no easy task for Respawn, splitting time between Apex, Star Wars games and other potential projects.
Apex Legends is still a game to watch, but it’s clear that interest is fading, and it’s also clear why.
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