@saurerDropsXXL"4. the developers don't need it (yet). Perhaps they have found a way to not only increase the number of matches (as you say) or the playing time, but also to increase or stabilize the cash flow, despite the declining number of players and dissatisfied remaining players. ATTENTION: Speculation! I recently made a consideration in another thread that fits this point very well.Since I can't prove it, it remains pure speculation!"
Not speculation. This is from some random market-watch investment advisor:
"Apex Legends, though down on a year-over-year basis, delivered net bookings above the company’s expectations, with Season 18 driving greater-than-anticipated player acquisition and monetization. Apex Legends remains one of the strongest franchises in the industry. The company is already working on Season 19."
This is information coming directly from EA quarterlies. They don't always lay out, dollar for dollar, how well or poorly the game is doing, but they will always let investors know which properties are performing well and which are failing to meet expectations. I suppose the real loophole here is, what exactly are EA's expectations for the game? It's entirely possible that they EXPECT the game to decline over time, as all games do, and in that light it makes no sense to put money into major overhauls or fancy new modes. Where they'll spend is on the store. That's where the money comes from after all.
On the other hand, we've had two new modes in very recent memory, and a new season around the corner which may bring some big new content. If it does then I'd say this is all an indication that EA DOES see a future for the game. That vision may not include some or any of the things we'd like to see fixed or added, but the game will still persist as long as it keeps making money.