The CEO of EA has dismissed the notion that launching an Apex 2.0 would address the game's challenges following a lackluster quarter

During an earnings call, Electronic Arts' CEO Andrew Wilson dismissed the notion of creating an 'Apex 2.0' to address current issues with Apex Legends, even as the game performed below expectations in the company's otherwise successful Q2 FY25. Stuart Canfield, EA's CFO, noted that the game experienced "lower player engagement" for the period ending September 30, 2024, but emphasized ongoing investments in substantial improvements.

In the Q&A, an analyst questioned the feasibility of making incremental changes to Apex while it remains active or if a full reboot akin to Apex 2.0 might be necessary. Wilson responded by saying that creating a sequel often doesn't replicate the success of the original in large-scale live-service games.

According to Wilson, the current aim is to maintain support for the game's global community, introduce new content each season, and simultaneously innovate without forcing players to abandon their existing progress or investments. He added that compelling players to choose between past investments and new developments is not ideal.

"What we have seen is the version two thing has almost never been as successful as the version one thing"Andrew Wilson

Wilson highlighted the importance of evolving the core experience continuously and expanding player engagement through alternative methods without splitting the existing experience. He mentioned the team's ongoing work on these objectives.

Earlier this year, Apex Legends revised its battle pass pricing strategy but reversed the changes after receiving negative feedback from players.

In addition, Wilson spoke about the imminent release of Dragon Age: The Veilguard, expressing confidence in its "breakout potential." He cited the extra effort invested by BioWare to enhance the game’s world, characters, and narrative, positioning it advantageously in a market with limited competition.

EA's record quarter was predominantly buoyed by strong performances from its sports titles. Wilson pointed out that EA's business model has largely shifted from annual product launches to more ongoing, service-based models.