During a recent conversation, the design director of Respawn Entertainment, Evan Nikolich, expressed that he and his team have a long-term goal for their live service game, Apex Legends, to remain relevant and popular for two decades. Even though many games in this category are frequently abandoned, Respawn is determined to deliver new content to keep their players engaged and enthusiastic. The team’s objective is to make Apex Legends one of the few games that can keep providing fresh content and keep their player base loyal for the long haul.
During a recent conversation with IGN, Evan Nikolich discussed Respawn Entertainment’s vision for the future of Apex Legends. He acknowledged the possibility that the studio may eventually move on from the game, but he expressed a desire for it to continue to thrive with the support of its fans for many years to come. As an example of a game that has endured and remained popular without significant updates, Nikolich cited Counter-Strike, a shooter game that was first released in 2012.
Using Counter-Strike as a reference, Nikolich suggested that Respawn aims to establish Apex Legends as a game that can sustain its player base even after its development phase is complete.
Evan Nikolich compared the growth of Apex Legends to the evolution of sports over time. He pointed out that many sports have been around for over a century, and even basketball, which he is fond of, has undergone significant changes in just 100 years, including introducing the shot clock and the three-point line. Similarly, Apex Legends is still in its early stages, and Nikolich anticipates that the game will continue to evolve with new content and features. He acknowledged that adding new components to the game and developing it to reach its full potential will be a gradual process, much like the development of the NBA game over time.
The game has gained much popularity as a battle royale title, but the developers are looking to keep that momentum going for a long time. He expressed his hopes that the game will continue to thrive for the next twenty years, like the iconic Counter-Strike. The team is dedicated to constantly creating new content to keep players engaged and invested in the game, contributing to its longevity. By establishing a loyal fan base, the developers believe that Apex Legends has the potential to become one of the select few games that can maintain popularity for decades.
Despite the impending shutdown of Apex Legends Mobile in May, the primary game remains incredibly popular with players. The game’s most recent season, Season 16, has just launched, and fans are eager to dive into its new features, including the addition of a Team Deathmatch mode. While some players may still be mourning the loss of the mobile version, the core game’s dedicated fan base is still invested in the title and eager to experience all it has to offer.
The idea that Apex Legends could still be beloved by fans twenty years from now is a mixed bag for franchise enthusiasts. While the game has experienced remarkable success, the same cannot be said for its source material, the Titanfall games. Despite the fact that various spin-off projects were shelved before completion, many players still hold onto the possibility of a revival for the original games. In contrast, Apex Legends has continued to draw a sincere and loyal fan base. Despite the uncertain fate of the Titanfall series, Apex Legends remains a popular and thriving game.
It needs to be determined if Nikolich and the Respawn team can develop a game with lasting popularity. Only Fortnite and Minecraft have managed to achieve such long-term success. Despite Apex Legends’ popularity, it is uncertain if players will continue to be engaged with the game once Respawn shifts their focus to another project. Nonetheless, Respawn is actively working to enhance Apex Legends with new gameplay modes and adjustments. It is uncertain when a new character will be introduced to Apex Legends as it may require a significant amount of time to develop and implement.
Apex Legends made its debut in February 2019 and has been on the market for five years. The game is currently in its 16th competitive season, indicating that it has already made progress toward maintaining lasting appeal for two decades. The recently launched Season 16 of Apex Legends marks the introduction of the first new weapon, the Nemesis energy assault rifle, in a while.