Apex Legends Inundated with Negative Reviews
Apex Legends, the popular battle royale game developed by Respawn Entertainment, has been hit with a wave of negative reviews on the Steam digital distribution platform. The source of this review bombing stems from Respawn’s recent announcement of controversial changes to the game’s Season 22 Battle Pass system.
Apex Legends, which first launched in 2019, has cultivated a sizable and dedicated player base over the years. A key draw of the game has been its rich narrative lore and exhilarating, fast-paced combat that blends elements of character-based abilities and squad-based tactics. However, the upcoming modifications to the Battle Pass have left many loyal fans feeling frustrated and disillusioned.
The Battle Pass is a premium progression system that allows players to unlock exclusive cosmetic items and other rewards by completing in-game challenges and earning experience points. Respawn’s plans to significantly alter how the Battle Pass functions in Season 22 have sparked an immediate backlash from the community. Players have taken to review bombing Apex Legends on Steam, flooding the game’s page with negative feedback to voice their discontent over the impending Battle Pass changes.
This review bombing campaign represents a broader trend of player frustration with live service games making controversial decisions that clash with the desires of the existing community. Apex Legends’ dedicated player base clearly feels passionately about the game and is making their displeasure known in a very public manner on one of the industry’s most prominent digital storefronts.
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The Apex Legends Community Erupts in Outrage Over Battle Pass Changes
The Apex Legends community has been thrown into turmoil following the reveal of major changes coming to the game’s Battle Pass system in Season 22. According to the latest update from publisher EA, players will no longer have the option to purchase the Battle Pass using the in-game Apex Coins currency. Instead, the Battle Pass will require a real-money transaction, with two separate purchasable tiers being introduced.
The Premium Battle Pass will cost $9.99, while the Premium+ tier will be priced at $19.99. While the total number of Battle Pass levels will be reduced to 60 per season, players will now need to complete a combined 120 levels across the two separate Passes to unlock all the available rewards and cosmetic items. This effectively negates any potential reduction in the overall grind, leaving many players feeling deceived by the promises of an easier progression system.
The backlash from the Apex Legends faithful has been swift and severe. Thousands of negative reviews have flooded the game’s Steam page, causing the recent user score to plummet to a “Mixed” rating. On a single day, July 9th, over 1,400 negative reviews were posted, signaling the depth of the community’s discontent.
Many long-time players have expressed their intention to quit Apex Legends entirely, citing this Battle Pass change as the final straw. The Apex Legends subreddit has been inundated with critical posts, with some users even going so far as to uninstall the game in protest. This level of backlash represents a significant challenge for Respawn and EA, as they risk alienating a substantial portion of their dedicated player base over these highly unpopular monetization decisions.
The changes to the Battle Pass system come on the heels of other controversial updates introduced in Apex Legends’ Season 21. Earlier this year, the developers implemented a system that required players to complete specific in-game tasks in order to earn Apex Packs, the game’s loot boxes. This shift away from the previous randomized drop rate system was met with significant criticism from the community, who felt it added an unnecessary layer of grind to the progression experience.
Additionally, Respawn’s decision to reduce the number of Apex Packs earned through the free version of the Battle Pass has been a point of contention. Players argued that this change limited their ability to acquire new cosmetic items without spending additional money on microtransactions.
The reaction to these ongoing monetization adjustments highlights the fragile balance that live service games must strike between maintaining a sustainable revenue model and keeping their player base engaged and satisfied. Apex Legends has built a loyal following over the years due to its dynamic gameplay, diverse character roster, and rich narrative universe. However, the community now feels that the developer’s priorities have shifted too far toward maximizing profit at the expense of the player experience.
This sentiment is echoed by prominent Apex Legends content creators and streamers, who have also expressed their disappointment with the latest changes. Many of these influential figures have built their audiences around the game, and their criticism carries significant weight within the community. As these creators continue to voice their dissent, it may further erode trust and goodwill among casual players as well.
Respawn’s challenge now is to find a way to address the community’s concerns without compromising the long-term viability of the game’s business model. The developer will need to carefully navigate this delicate situation, as any missteps could lead to a further exodus of players and a lasting decline in the game’s overall popularity and relevance.
The Apex Legends community has a history of being highly vocal and passionate about the game they love. They have shown a willingness to organize coordinated efforts, such as review bombing campaigns, to make their voices heard when they feel the developers have strayed too far from the core principles that initially drew them to the game.
This latest backlash over the Battle Pass changes is a testament to the community’s commitment to preserving the Apex Legends experience they’ve come to cherish. As Respawn and EA navigate this crisis, they would be wise to closely listen to the feedback and concerns of their player base, and work to find a balanced solution that maintains the game’s long-term viability while also respecting the needs and expectations of the dedicated Apex Legends community.
Apex Legends Season 21 Brought Massive Changes
Prior to the announcement of the major Battle Pass changes in Apex Legends, the game’s developers had already made some adjustments to the Ranked Rewards system in Season 21. Respawn and EA opted to revert to a previous model where players who achieve the same competitive rank across both splits of the season are awarded an animated badge. Those who end the season with different ranks will receive a static badge reflecting their higher rank. Alongside these Ranked Rewards changes, the mid-season patch for Season 21 also introduced some positive balance updates. Both Wattson and Ash received subtle “shadow buffs” – Wattson’s shield regeneration ability was enhanced, while Ash’s Ultimate ability now allows for increased portal distance. These changes were well-received by players who main those particular Legends, as they have improved their overall effectiveness in-game. However, the recent reveal of significant alterations to Apex Legends’ Battle Pass system in Season 22 has ignited a firestorm of criticism within the community. The decision to remove the option to purchase the Battle Pass using in-game Apex Coins, and instead require a real-money transaction, has been a major point of contention.
The introduction of two separate tiers of the Battle Pass, with the Premium tier costing $9.99 and the Premium+ tier priced at $19.99, has further exacerbated the community’s discontent. While the total number of Battle Pass levels has been reduced to 60 per season, players will now need to complete a combined 120 levels across the two Passes to unlock all available rewards and cosmetics. This effectively negates any potential reduction in the overall progression grind, leaving many players feeling deceived by the promises of an easier system. The backlash from the Apex Legends faithful has been swift and severe, with thousands of negative reviews flooding the game’s Steam page and causing the recent user score to plummet to a “Mixed” rating. Countless long-time players have expressed their intention to quit the game entirely, citing these Battle Pass changes as the final straw. This latest controversy highlights the ongoing challenge that live service games like Apex Legends face in maintaining a sustainable revenue model while keeping their player base engaged and satisfied. Respawn and EA must now navigate this delicate situation, as any missteps could lead to a further exodus of players and a lasting decline in the game’s overall popularity and relevance. The reaction to these monetization adjustments has been amplified by the criticism from prominent Apex Legends content creators and streamers, who have built their audiences around the game. As these influential voices continue to voice their dissent, it may further erode trust and goodwill among casual players as well.
Ultimately, Respawn’s challenge is to find a way to address the community’s concerns without compromising the long-term viability of the game’s business model. The developer will need to carefully listen to the feedback and concerns of their player base, and work to find a balanced solution that maintains Apex Legends’ long-term sustainability while also respecting the needs and expectations of the dedicated community. Alongside the Battle Pass changes, the mid-season patch for Season 21 also introduced a highly controversial nerf to the Bloodhound legend in Apex Legends. The decision to remove the ability for Bloodhound’s Ultimate ability to highlight enemies through smoke or gas has been met with significant backlash from the community. Bloodhound has been a staple pick in the competitive Apex Legends meta since the game’s launch in Season 0, with their tracking abilities providing invaluable information and rotational support for teams. The removal of this key functionality from their Ultimate has been seen by many players as a major blow to the legend’s overall utility and effectiveness, especially in the late-game stages of high-level matches. The future impact of this nerf on Bloodhound’s viability in the competitive scene remains uncertain, but there are concerns that it could result in a sharp decline in the legend’s pick rate among pro players and high-ranked competitors. This, in turn, could have a cascading effect on the overall meta, as teams may be forced to rethink their strategic compositions and approach to information gathering and rotations.
The combination of the controversial Battle Pass changes and the unexpected Bloodhound nerf has created a perfect storm of community unrest within the Apex Legends playerbase. With numerous long-time players threatening to abandon the game entirely, there is a palpable risk of a significant player exodus in the near future. This potential loss of players could have far-reaching consequences for the long-term health and vitality of the Apex Legends ecosystem. Not only would it impact the game’s overall population and queue times, but it could also make the title less attractive to potential new players, streamers, and content creators. Additionally, a significant player exodus could jeopardize the game’s standing in the highly competitive battle royale genre, where maintaining a strong and engaged community is crucial for sustained success. Apex Legends has carved out a significant niche for itself since its launch in 2019, but it now faces the risk of losing ground to its rivals if the current wave of player dissatisfaction is not effectively addressed. Respawn and EA find themselves in a delicate position, tasked with navigating these turbulent waters and finding a way to restore the community’s trust while also ensuring the long-term financial viability of Apex Legends. The developers will need to carefully weigh the feedback and concerns of their player base, while also considering the realities of the game’s live service model and the need to generate sustainable revenue.
One potential approach could be to reintroduce the option to purchase the Battle Pass using in-game Apex Coins, while maintaining the Premium+ tier for those who desire a more premium experience. This would provide players with a more accessible and affordable entry point, while still allowing for a higher-tier offering for those willing to invest more.
Additionally, Respawn may need to reconsider the Bloodhound nerf, or at least explore ways to mitigate the impact on the legend’s overall viability. Restoring the ability to track enemies through smoke and gas could help to alleviate the concerns of the competitive community and ensure that Bloodhound remains a viable and compelling option in the meta.
Ultimately, Respawn and EA must find a delicate balance between monetization and player satisfaction, as the long-term success of Apex Legends hinges on their ability to maintain a healthy and engaged player base. The decisions they make in the coming weeks and months will be pivotal in determining the future trajectory of the game, and whether it can weather the current storm of community unrest.
