Apex Legends Season 22 is doubling up on paid battle passes

Apex Legends Season 22 is introducing significant changes to the way battle passes and rewards are distributed to players. Developer Respawn Entertainment has announced that each season will now consist of two shorter battle passes instead of one. Additionally, players will no longer be able to purchase battle passes using premium in-game currency. This decision has sparked outrage within the community due to the perceived increase in the cost of premium battle passes for the free-to-play shooter.

Starting from Season 22 in August, Apex Legends will offer two half-season battle passes. The first pass will be available at the beginning of the season, with the second being released at the season’s midpoint. Each pass will contain 60 levels of rewards, totaling 120 levels. This is an increase from the previous system, which offered 110 rewards. The new structure aims to reduce the grind required to reach the highest-tier rewards and unique skins.

However, these improvements come at a price. While a free battle pass reward track will still be available, each half-season premium battle pass will cost $9.99 USD in real currency. This effectively doubles the cost compared to the previous system where a premium battle pass could be purchased for 950 Apex Coins. Players could earn these coins through gameplay or by completing a previous battle pass, incentivizing continued engagement with the game.

In addition to the standard premium pass, a new ‘Premium+’ tier will replace the existing ‘Premium Bundle’. Priced at $19.99, this tier offers 10 level skips, double the Exotic Shards, special character skin variants, and grants access to all characters for the duration of the battle pass. Over a full season, this equates to $40 compared to 2800 Apex Coins. Respawn Entertainment states that the shift from in-game currency to real-world currency allows them to lower the price of Premium+ for the community.

One aspect that remains unclear is the duration of availability for each battle pass. Will the first pass of a season expire at the midpoint, or will it remain valid until the end of the season? With each pass containing roughly half the rewards, players may face a time crunch to complete them, leading to a fear of missing out and the need to grind for the final tier rewards.

The changes to the battle pass system have been met with backlash from the player base, primarily due to the perceived doubling of costs. Some have questioned the sustainability of Apex Legends as a game if EA is resorting to such tactics. This move mirrors the strategies employed by services like Netflix, Disney+, and PS Plus, which have increased prices over time to boost revenues. EA is banking on the idea that offering more battle passes will encourage dedicated players to spend more, offsetting any potential loss of players deterred by the decision.

On the flip side, the increased frequency of shorter battle passes (both free and paid) may lead to a more consistent level of player engagement and gameplay. Instead of waiting for a major content refresh every three months, players can expect new content every 1.5 months. This strategy aims to smooth out any peaks and valleys in player activity that the game may currently experience.

Source: Apex Legends