Apex Legends players criticise plans to shake-up how Battle Passes works

There will be two $10 Battle Passes per season, and they’ll only be purchasable with real money

Electronic Arts is facing a backlash over newly announced plans to shake-up the Apex Legends Battle Pass experience.

Starting with Season 22, there will be two $10 Battle Passes per season rather than one, and players will no longer be able to use earned virtual currency (Apex Coins) to acquire them – a decision that was “not one that we made lightly”, EA said on Monday.

As it stands, Season 21’s Battle Pass can be purchased for 950 Apex Coins. The Battle Pass runs for the whole season and has 110 levels.

While it normally costs $9.99/£8.99 to purchase 1,000 Apex Coins with real money, players can earn some Apex Coins as rewards from a season’s Battle Pass, and these could previously be put towards future ones.

Going forward, each season will offer two Battle Passes, one for each split, with each priced at $9.99 in real world currency and including 60 levels.

In a blog post detailing the changes, EA claimed the shake-up will offer greater value for players and reduce the time needed to unlock high-end items.

Starting with Season 22, we’re evolving the Apex Legends Battle Pass to improve your experience and progression goals.
Read on to learn everything to know about the upcoming changes or check out the infographic below to learn more.
📃: https://t.co/kg5NhlFfVq pic.twitter.com/i516ktP9ma
— Apex Legends (@PlayApex) July 8, 2024

“We’ll get into it for those that love the details, but here’s the gist: shorter Battle Pass with one for each split, revamped rewards, and purchased with IRL currency with a new cost for Premium+,” EA said.

“We’ve seen the numbers, and things need to be more approachable and realistic for our global player community. Each of these updated aspects allows us to make the Battle Pass more attainable and valuable for your time and money. The reward should always be worth the time you choose to spend in the Outlands, and now it is.”

However, going on social media reactions to the announcement, the move is being overwhelmingly criticised by players, with many suggesting it’s just a cynical attempt to fleece consumers in the face of diminishing returns for the free-to-play game, which launched in February 2019.

“Massive L,” one X user wrote in response to today’s news. “Can no longer purchase with Apex coins and there are 2 battle passes per season. Basically just doubled the price of the battle pass AND doesn’t allow you to purchase future battle passes with Apex coins from the current. Arguably biggest L I’ve seen in Apex to date.

“I wanna follow up and say I don’t say this lightly. This is Respawn attempting to milk out the last bit of the remaining loyal playerbase. As a battle pass holder from S1-current, I won’t be purchasing S22. This is a telling sign to me the game is on the decline. Dramatic maybe?”

“This seems like the only people this improves the experience for is the stock holders,” said another player.

“I’m usually positive but this is just disappointing,” wrote another fan. “You have one of the best shooters at its core with an amazing community and yet you keep slowly killing it.

“For the people who still play your game even with the player count being the lowest since 2021, you are just punishing them by making the BP now costing real money instead of being able to use AC.

“Please please please stop this and focus on fixing the actual issues with your game that everyone keeps talking about and wanting so we can see it thrive once more.”

In the footnotes of its blog, EA noted that “this announcement may change as we listen to community feedback and continue developing and evolving our Live Service & Content.”

Respawn and its flagship game have had a rough year to date. In March, the studio was hit with a round of layoffs as part of wider cuts at parent company EA.

Just days later, the North American finals of an Apex Legends tournament were postponed after hackers gave competitors cheats mid-game.

And in April, Respawn offered free Apex Packs to all Apex Legends players after some experienced account resets and lost progress after the studio “messed up” an update.