Apex Legends has found itself in the midst of another PR disaster, with a recent U-turn on a controversial battle pass update sparking further negative reviews and a decline in player numbers.
The initial change, announced in July, aimed to revamp the battle pass system with improved rewards but also implemented a shift in how players could access them. Previously, players could use Apex Coins, earned from previous battle passes, to purchase new ones. However, the new system would require real money transactions and doubled the number of battle passes released per season. Unsurprisingly, this met with fierce opposition from the gameâs fanbase.
As expected, the news triggered a wave of negative reviews on Steam, with Apex Legends' review score plummeting. Last week, Respawn attempted to appease the community by reverting to the old system, allowing players to purchase battle passes with Apex Coins as before. However, this backfired spectacularly, with the negative reviews continuing to pour in.
Currently, Apex Legends sits on a "Overwhelmingly Negative" review score on Steam, with only 7% of reviews in the last 30 days being positive. Since the start of July, the game has received over 85,000 reviews, the majority of which followed the announcement of the battle pass changes. The negative sentiment persists, with players now citing issues with cheaters, matchmaking, and the game's anti-cheat system as their primary grievances.
The backlash has also impacted player numbers, with a noticeable decline in recent weeks. While the concurrent player count on Steam remains respectable, it has reached its lowest point since January 2022, raising concerns about the game's future. While the situation may improve with future updates, the developer faces a daunting task to regain the trust and support of its once-enthusiastic fanbase.
This recent turmoil serves as a stark reminder of the delicate balance between monetization and player satisfaction in the gaming industry. Apex Legends' experience highlights the importance of careful planning and communication when introducing significant changes to beloved games. It remains to be seen whether Respawn can successfully address these issues and restore the game to its former glory.
