Saving Apex Legends
Introduction
Since its launch in 2019, Apex Legends has been more than just a battle royale. It has been a revolution in the shooter genre, a home for millions of players, and a unique experience that blends high-paced action with deep strategy. From the early circles in Kings Canyon to the intense final fights in Storm Point, we have lived through epic moments, laughter, frustration, and pure adrenaline.But today, the reality is different. What was once a thriving phenomenon is now struggling to stay alive. The community feels the wear and tear. Servers are failing, content is becoming repetitive, matchmaking frustrates more than it excites, and what was once a passion is slowly turning into a distant memory.We don’t want to see Apex Legends fade away. We don’t want a game with so much potential to be buried under poor decisions or lack of attention.That’s why this document is not just a list of complaints—it is a call to action. It represents the voice of those who still believe in this game, those who have invested hours, effort, and passion into every match. We want Apex to shine again. We want solutions, we want evolution. And above all, we want to be heard.
Respawn, this is our open letter to you.
Current Issues in Apex Legends
Below, we outline the most critical issues affecting Apex Legends—problems that, if left unaddressed, could determine the game’s fate. These aren’t just minor inconveniences; they are major barriers that are driving the community away and destroying the overall experience.
Unstable Servers and Connection Issues
Apex Legends is a game that demands precision and speed, yet the servers fail to meet this standard. The community has endured years of:
Constant lag and packet loss, even with stable internet connections.
Disconnections at critical moments, ruining ranked matches.
Hit registration delays (desync), where bullets that should land simply don’t connect.
Issues with servers in different regions, forcing many players to switch servers and suffer higher latency.
Players should not lose RP or matches due to poor infrastructure. This is a critical issue that requires an urgent fix.
Broken and Unbalanced Matchmaking
The matchmaking system feels completely broken across multiple game modes. Some of the most glaring issues include:
Public matches with extreme skill imbalances, where casual teams are matched against Predators and former pro players.
A ranked system that makes no sense, placing players in lobbies that don’t match their actual skill level, creating frustrating rather than competitive matches.
Matches with players of vastly different experience levels, negatively affecting both new players and veterans looking for real challenges.
Matchmaking should reward skill and time invested, not punish players with unfair matchups.
Lack of Innovation and Repetitive Content
Every season promises new content, yet everything feels recycled. The main problems include:
Limited-time modes (LTMs) that feel repetitive and lack truly fresh variations to keep players engaged.
Events that prioritize overpriced skins over meaningful gameplay depth, where the focus seems to be selling cosmetics rather than delivering memorable experiences.
A stagnant meta, with only a few Legends truly viable and very few meaningful weapon balance changes to refresh gameplay.
Apex needs more than expensive skins and minor updates—it needs content that makes every season feel worthwhile.
Poor Monetization and Unrewarding Progression
The monetization model has become one of the biggest complaints in the community:
Ridiculous skin and bundle prices, with cosmetics costing nearly as much as a full-priced game.
Battle passes with mediocre rewards, making players feel like their effort isn’t worth it.
No fair way to obtain content, as loot boxes (Apex Packs) remain the only option for getting Heirlooms, with no alternative path.
Apex needs a fairer system that values players’ time and money instead of exploiting them.
Ineffective Anti-Cheat and Rising Number of Hackers
Cheaters have been a constant issue in Apex Legends, especially in high-ranked lobbies and competitive matches. The current anti-cheat system is failing because:
Hackers keep coming back even after being banned, easily creating new accounts with no real restrictions.
Soft cheats and exploits go unnoticed, allowing players with subtle aim assist or wallhacks to dominate matches without immediate consequences.
No real-time action against cheaters, meaning matches are often ruined with no solution in sight.
A competitive game without a strong anti-cheat system will inevitably lose credibility.
Proposed Solutions
Unstable Servers and Connection Issues – Solutions
Investment in Dedicated Servers and Netcode Optimization
Implement 128-tick servers at least for Ranked and ALGS modes to improve hit registration accuracy.
Review the netcode and optimize server synchronization to reduce desync and packet loss.
A More Robust Reconnection System
Allow players who disconnect due to server issues to rejoin the match without penalties, especially in Ranked.
Implement a system that detects involuntary disconnections and prevents unfair RP losses.
Global Infrastructure Improvements
Expand the number of servers in high-latency regions to enhance the experience in areas with limited access.
Allow unrestricted manual server selection to prevent unnecessary lag in matchmaking.
Faulty and Unbalanced Matchmaking – Solutions
Matchmaking System Overhaul
Implement a more accurate MMR system for both public matches and Ranked, prioritizing skill-based matchmaking over arbitrary rank-based pairings.
Ensure public lobbies are less extreme in skill level, preventing unfair matchups between casual players and ex-Predators.
Fairer Ranked Mode with Better Rewards
Bring back the Ranked system that prioritizes winning matches over just kills or damage.
Offer more valuable rewards for reaching certain ranks, such as exclusive weapon skins, guaranteed Apex Packs, or even Apex Coins.
Better Duo and Trio Matchmaking
Prevent solo players from being matched against full, pre-made squads, ensuring more balanced lobbies based on team composition.
Lack of Innovation and Repetitive Content – Solutions
New and Permanent Game Modes
Introduce a larger player-count mode (80 or 100 players instead of 60) to increase match intensity.
Add permanent modes featuring "classics" from past events (Shadow Royale, Solo Battle Royale, Armed & Dangerous).
Experiment with dynamic maps that change during the match to offer variety in each game.
Events with Innovative Gameplay, Not Just Skins
Create themed events with unique mechanics, such as a mode where each round is played on a different map.
Introduce a PvE co-op event where players face waves of NPC enemies within the Apex universe.
More Frequent Meta Rotations and Balancing
Implement more frequent balance updates for Legends and weapons to prevent the meta from becoming stale for months.
Introduce dynamic buffs and nerfs that respond to real-time community feedback.
Monetization Issues and Poorly Designed Rewards – Solutions
More Affordable Prices and Free Content Options
Reduce the cost of skins and bundles to a more reasonable price, making purchases feel worthwhile instead of exploitative.
Improve Apex Pack drop rates for valuable content, preventing excessive duplicates and unnecessary charms.
Allow players to purchase Heirlooms directly with Apex Coins.
A Battle Pass That Feels Worth It
Add animated and uniquely designed skins as high-tier Battle Pass rewards.
A More Satisfying Progression System
Provide rewards beyond the Battle Pass, such as exclusive skins for veteran players, unique titles, and extra Apex Packs for reaching specific milestones.
Anti-Cheat Issues and Rising Number of Hackers – Solutions
Better Anti-Cheat and Faster Response Times
Implement real-time detection of aimbots and wallhacks, automatically banning players using external software.
Establish a live moderation team to review and remove cheaters during tournaments and high-level matches.
Stronger Punishments for Repeat Offenders
Implement IP and hardware bans to prevent cheaters from easily creating new accounts.
Increase Ranked entry requirements, such as mandatory two-factor authentication or a minimum level threshold before playing.
Faster and More Transparent Reporting System
Improve the reporting interface, allowing players to attach clips or details that help moderators review cheaters faster.
Notify players when their reports result in a ban, reinforcing that reports have a real impact.
Suggestions to Enrich and Expand Apex Legends
Beyond fixing current issues, Apex Legends has a unique opportunity to expand its universe and strengthen its bond with the community. It’s not just a game—it’s a rich world full of characters, stories, and epic moments. Below are five key proposals that could transform Apex into an even more immersive, engaging, and profitable experience for Respawn.
Expanding Legend Lore: More Narrative Development
One of Apex Legends' strongest aspects is its story and characters. However, not all Legends have received the same level of development. Some have deep narratives and meaningful connections (Loba and Revenant, Valkyrie and Viper), while others are barely mentioned in events or comics.
Proposal:
Expand every Legend’s backstory with regular cinematics that dive deeper into their motivations, pasts, and ties to the Titanfall universe.
Develop longer narrative arcs, making Legends evolve over time instead of remaining static.
Bring back interactive story missions like Shadowfall or Bloodhound’s Trials, allowing players to experience lore-driven gameplay.
Impact:
A richer lore keeps the community engaged and invested, fostering discussions, theories, and fan content across social media.
Enhancing Legend Interactions and Gameplay Dynamics
One of Apex Legends' most underutilized aspects is the interaction between Legends. Currently, dialogue and animations are minimal, and character chemistry barely impacts gameplay.
Proposal:
Add more dynamic squad dialogues based on team composition. Example: Loba and Revenant trading insults before jumping, Mirage flirting with Vantage, etc.
Implement new drop animations where Legends visually interact during the jump phase.
Introduce ability synergies between Legends, similar to other team-based games. Examples:
Catalyst reinforcing Newcastle’s tactical shield.
Revenant temporarily disabling an enemy's tactical when Ash marks them with her ultimate.
Mirage making another Mirage’s decoys turn invisible when reviving.
Impact:
A more lively and dynamic Apex Legends enhances immersion and reinforces the unique personality of each Legend.
Supporting Streamers and Tournaments to Boost Game Visibility
Streamers and content creators have played a crucial role in Apex Legends' growth. However, they don’t always receive the support needed to continue promoting the game and keeping the community active.
Proposal:
Invest more in open and regional tournaments, expanding into Latin America and other underrepresented regions to give visibility to players of all skill levels, not just ALGS professionals.
Create an official creator program with benefits like early access to content, exclusive skins, or sponsored tournaments.
Increase community engagement on social media, actively listening to feedback from both streamers and casual players.
Impact:
Supporting creators strengthens Apex Legends’ presence on platforms like Twitch and YouTube, keeping the game relevant and attracting new players.
Developing an Exclusive In-Game Animated Series
Apex Legends' universe has enormous cinematic potential. The cinematics and Stories from the Outlands have already proven that the community LOVES this kind of content. So why not take it a step further?
Proposal:
Develop an in-game exclusive animated series with episodes unlocking each season.
Alternate between episodes focusing on Apex Legends’ main storyline and deep dives into individual Legends' pasts.
Keep the series exclusive to the Apex platform, encouraging players to log in to watch each episode.
Impact:
An in-game animated series would not only increase player retention but also attract a new audience that might fall in love with the lore before even trying the game.
Bringing Back Minigames with Unique Rewards
Minigames in Apex Legends were some of the best temporary additions in past events but were never expanded upon. Why not use them as an additional progression system?
Proposal:
Implement Legend-themed minigames accessible from the training area or special events.
Reward players with exclusive content like unique skins, charms, or voice lines.
Make these minigames unlock content in the store, ensuring players need to engage with gameplay to access certain rewards.
Impact:
Well-designed minigames would give players extra incentives to play beyond traditional battle royale or Ranked modes, increasing engagement and adding more variety to the game.
Respawn,
Apex Legends is not just a battle royale—it’s a living story, a universe with limitless potential. These ideas wouldn’t just improve the game; they would make it more immersive, profitable, and appealing to a community that still believes in it.
We’re not asking for a miracle. We’re asking for evolution. Apex Legends can reclaim its throne as the king of the genre, but to do so, it must listen, innovate, and strive for greatness.
We know this isn’t news to you. We know Respawn is aware of many of these issues, and that an incredible team of developers, designers, and creatives is working tirelessly every day to make Apex Legends better. We don’t doubt your passion or your commitment to this game—a game that has given us countless hours of excitement, adrenaline, and unforgettable moments.
But we also know that time is crucial. The community is still here—waiting, hoping, dreaming of the Apex Legends we know it can be. We understand that Apex is more than just a game to you; it’s a constantly evolving project, a labor of passion and dedication.
Respawn, Apex is great. You made it great. And together, we can make it shine once more.
Don’t let this story end here.