The Simplest Yet Most Impactful Change in Apex Legends 2.0

Respawn is gearing up for a significant revamp of Apex Legends after the game fell short of EA’s expectations. When pondering which elements of Apex Legends are in dire need of a transformation, one issue stands out prominently.

Season 24 of Apex Legends introduces another major gameplay overhaul, much like what we saw in Seasons 16 and 20. Each of these updates brought about improvements, yet they reveal a trend of moving away from content-rich updates. Previously, fans eagerly anticipated each new season, expecting not only a brand-new Legend and some adjustments to the maps but also the introduction of fresh weapons or even a new map every few seasons. Lately, however, this hasn’t been the case. Since Season 16, only three new Legends have been introduced, and modifications to the maps have become infrequent. Many players welcome the transition towards Legend and system reworks, but there’s a growing sentiment that the game is losing its luster.

During a recent EA financial call, CEO Andrew Wilson highlighted that Respawn is working on a ‘2.0’ update for Apex Legends as it hasn’t met the company’s benchmarks. Although the game remains enjoyable, it feels stagnant to many long-time players, a problem exacerbated by the multiple controversies it faced throughout 2024.

A full-scale overhaul could bring numerous improvements to the game, but there’s one obvious candidate for elimination—the Legend Tokens. These tokens have been part of Apex’s currency system mainly for purchasing new Legends but serve little other purpose. Over time, they’ve become an outdated piece of the game, and it might be time for them to retire in the upcoming 2.0 update.

Legend Tokens, which players earn as they level up, are primarily designed to help unlock new Legends in the game’s roster. While this creates a bit of a grind initially, it’s no worse than what players encounter in any live-service game. However, the past two years have seen fewer new Legends introduced, leading players to accumulate a huge surplus of Tokens with few worthy uses beyond an occasional weapon recolor.

As these Tokens continue to accumulate dust, Apex keeps amassing more currencies and collectibles. Recently, Exotic Shards were added, joining the ranks of Legend Tokens, Apex Coins, Crafting Materials, and Heirloom Shards, alongside more collectibles like the Mythic weapon skins featured in Season 24. While the game continues to add these new features, Legend Tokens remain largely unused, amounting to a minor annoyance for new players and offering little value to veterans.

To trim down the game’s currency bloat, it might be wise to phase out Legend Tokens altogether, especially since EA’s earnings are not primarily driven by Legend purchases. However, making all Legends free from the outset might prove overwhelming for newcomers, removing a clear progression goal. An alternative could be tying Legend unlocks to Crafting Materials or incorporating them into in-game achievements, like reaching a certain number of kills or cumulative damage.

Another approach could be to introduce a single-player campaign or a dedicated PvE mode, wherein unlocking characters is linked to completing specific levels or challenges. This might include special missions allowing players to try out and ultimately unlock a Legend upon completion, giving fresh strategies to engage and retain players.