Apex Legends Season 22 is set to introduce significant changes to how 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 controversy within the community due to the perceived increase in the cost of premium battle passes for the popular free-to-play shooter.
Starting in August with Season 22, Apex Legends will feature two half-season battle passes. The first will be available at the beginning of the season, with the second being released at the season’s midpoint “split”. Each battle pass will offer 60 levels of rewards, totaling 120 rewards per season. This marks an increase from the previous system’s 110 rewards and aims to reduce the grind required to unlock end-tier rewards and special skins.
However, these changes come at a price. While a free battle pass reward track will still be available, each half-season premium battle pass will now cost $9.99 USD in real currency. This effectively doubles the price compared to the previous system, where a premium battle pass could be purchased for 950 Apex Coins. These coins were either obtained through a bundle purchase or earned by completing a previous battle pass, incentivizing player engagement and retention.
In addition to the standard premium pass, a new ‘Premium+’ tier will replace the existing ‘Premium Bundle’. Priced at $19.99, the Premium+ pass offers 10 level skips, double the Exotic Shards, special character skin variants, and access to all characters for the duration of the battle pass. While this may seem like a significant increase in cost, Respawn Entertainment claims that the shift from in-game currency to real-world currency allows them to decrease 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 “split” or remain valid until the end of the season? With each pass containing roughly half the rewards, players may face challenges in completing them within the shortened timeframe, potentially leading to a fear of missing out and increased grinding for final tier rewards.
The recent changes to Apex Legends’ battle pass system have received mixed reactions from the fanbase. While some criticize the perceived cost increase, others question the overall health of the game if such tactics are deemed necessary. This strategic shift by EA is reminiscent of subscription-based services like Netflix and Disney+, where price adjustments are made to boost revenue and retain players.
On the flip side, the introduction of more frequent, shorter battle passes could alter the pace of gameplay and player engagement. Moving from a quarterly to a 1.5-month cadence may help balance out player activity levels and provide a more consistent experience throughout the season.
Source: Apex Legends
