Three years of hi-tech heroism
Electronic Arts has delivered a double dose of news pertaining to Respawn Entertainment’s multiplayer shooter Apex Legends.
First and foremost, the publisher has announced an official launch date for the mobile port of the free-to-play battle royale title. Legend-heads will be able to experience all the explosive, sci-fi action in pocket-sized fashion from May 17, when Apex Legends Mobile blasts off on iOS and Android devices. Pre-registration is now live via the Apple/Android stores, and players who pre-register will bag themselves bonus in-game items come launch day.
Apex Legends Mobile hopes to replicate the compelling and chaotic action of its bigger brother for the small screen. EA states that the mobile edition will remain free-to-play and will not feature any pay-to-win mechanics. The mobile port will launch with 10 playable Legends and two maps: World’s Edge and King’s Canyon. In time, Apex Legends Mobile will feature its own unique unlockables, cosmetic items, game modes, and Battle Pass content.
Apex Legends Mobile is launching at a time of great success for the franchise. Speaking in a financial earnings report earlier this week, EA noted that the PC and console editions of Apex Legends had raked in an eye-watering $2 billion USD in revenue since the title first dropped in February 2019. The CFO of Electronic Arts, Chris Suh, notes that net bookings for the game were up 40% on the previous fiscal year, calling Season 12 of Apex Legends the most successful season to date.
The huge success of Apex Legends no doubt brings with a measure of vindication within EA’s walls. Back when Apex Legends was first released, naysayers mocked the title as a likely attempt to cash in on the Fortnite craze, predicting that the lore-heavy shooter would die a quick death among what was then an ocean of battle royale titles. Thanks to its great action gameplay, sci-fi storytelling, and interesting roster of characters, Apex Legends carved a niche out for itself, only growing in popularity with each successive year, clearly reflected in the staggering figures mentioned above.
Apex Legends is available now on PlayStation, PC, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch platforms. Apex Legends Mobile will launch May 17 on iOS and Android devices.
