EA’s Apex Legends Mobile was discontinued on May 1, 2023, less than one calendar year on from a global release. But although the game was popular early and had an excellent interest with players, due to its constant bad reviews, it couldn’t match the inertia set by the PC and console versions of the game.
Table of Contents
The Rise and Fall of Apex Legends Mobile: Why EA Pulled the Plug
Lack of Content and Updates
EA stated that it was not possible to meet the requirements of the ‘Apex Legends’ brand in terms of the quality, quantity, and frequency of content updates. The gameplay was more or less the same as The game released with some new and interesting characters, such as Fade and Rhapsody, as the mobile exclusive characters, but the updates that followed were without any innovation, which made the game boring.
Technical Issues
It was plagued by some issues, such as buggy gameplay and performance issues, from the very beginning of the game. These problems annoyed the players, and the players started quitting the game, and though it had the potential to grow, it is now basically dead.
Declining Revenue
However, after generating $40 million within a few months, the revenue gradually decreased, with earnings reaching $3.5 million in December 2022. Moreover, due to the sudden drop-off in interest, profit margins shrank.
Crowded Market
There are already a number of veterans dominating the mobile battle royale market, such as PUBG Mobile and Free Fire. Apex Legends Mobile was kind of the same except with a different set of features, and it secured no solid corner of the market with its competition.
Strategical Turn by EA
EA certainly chose to invest its resources in platforms that suited its long-term objectives better. This decision was purely unrelated to the ongoing success of Apex Legends on PC and consoles, where the game still receives regular updates and boasts high player numbers.
Lessons for the Industry
The shutdown highlights the difficulties of transforming a popular PC/console game into a mobile game. It stresses the need for regular updates, timely remediation of technical issues, and establishing a uniquely identifiable product in a cluttered ecosystem.
Apex Legends Mobile showed promise but has become a cautionary tale for developers seeking to spread their wings in the mobile gaming marketplace. This intense competition will require even more specialization to be successful in future pursuits.
FAQs
Why did Apex Legends Mobile shut down so soon?
The game struggled with insufficient content updates, persistent technical issues, and declining revenue. EA also felt the mobile version did not meet the high standards of the Apex Legends brand.
Will Apex Legends Mobile return in the future?
As of now, EA has not announced any plans to revive Apex Legends Mobile. However, the PC and console versions of the game remain active and successful.
