Since its surprise release in February 2019, Apex Legends has become one of the more dominant shooters on the video game market. Thanks to continual updates, new content being added with each season, and more, Apex Legends is constantly a talking point in the gaming community. That will not change in the near future, and 2022 could be an impactful year for the battle royale game.
2021 saw more Legends, new guns, and the biggest map yet. 2022, however, has in store for it all of those things and also new versions of Apex Legends, much-asked-for feature additions, and likely even more of an emphasis on Titanfall. 2021 was a great year for Apex Legends, but thrilling changes and additions should also be on the way for 2022.
Apex Legends PS5 and Xbox Series X Versions
One of the big additions that will arrive this year for Apex Legends is versions for the PS5 and Xbox Series X. It's been nearly a year and a half since Respawn confirmed that it was working on a then "next-gen" version of Apex Legends. The consoles have since launched, and even those who are enjoying the game on current-gen consoles are playing the PS4 and Xbox One versions of the game. Recently, there have been rumors that the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S versions of Apex Legends will arrive soon.
Respawn has shared that a 120 FPS version of Apex Legends for the new consoles is a "high priority," meaning it will be one of the big features players can look forward to. Time will tell if a 4K version would be a part of the upgrade, but fast-paced multiplayer titles tend to focus on frame rate over resolution, if possible. Many upgraded versions of "last-gen" games have a performance mode and a quality mode. The focus seems to already be on the performance, but there are certainly plenty of Apex Legends players that will be happy with that.
The Release of Apex Legends Mobile
Another thing that will likely appear in 2022 is the mobile version of Apex Legends. While there hasn't been a ton of information as of late, last year it was revealed that the mobile version of the game would be a separate and new Apex Legends. The move to create a mobile-only version of Apex Legends is an interesting one. On one hand, this means that there would very likely be no cross-play or cross-platform progression, as the console/PC version of Apex Legends would be a totally different game. On the other hand, the mobile-exclusive aspect of the game would allow for a fair playing field, and it would let countless new players dive into the experience on an equal playing field.
Mobile games have come a long way, and competitors of Apex Legends have made their own "on-the-go" versions of their popular shooters, such as Fortnite and Call of Duty: Mobile. There is a chance that Apex Legends Mobile--which has been in a closed beta stage for some time--becomes a massive hit. Additionally, it will bring in a whole new revenue opportunity for Respawn Entertainment.
Apex Legends Season 12-15, New Legends, New Weapons, New Maps in 2022
At the start of each new season, a new Legend (and often a new weapon) is added to the mix. In fact, season 12's new character "Mad Maggie," an old friend of Fuse, has been confirmed. Beyond that, there has always been a rumor that Titanfall character Blisk will drop into the battle, as well as various un-confirmed datamined characters/leaks such as Jericho and Husaria.
In terms of Apex Legends weapons, the speculation is harder now than it has ever been. Every major weapon from Titanfall is now in the battle royale, whether it be weapons that were a part of the game or guns that have been added in seasonal updates. Fans can no longer guess that the Volt or CAR SMGs would come to Apex Legends, because they now have. But more guns will be added. And in terms of weapon diversity, it would make sense for a shotgun to be added to the mix, as it is the only weapon type that has not yet received a new addition since launch. Seasonal updates will also bring new hop-ups, and perhaps a new piece of equipment as well.
Apex Legends launched with the map Kings Canyon in 2019. That same year, World's Edge was added in October 2019. In November 2020, the map Olympus joined in on the Apex Legends fun. And most recently, Storm Point (which is now the biggest map in the game), dropped alongside Season 11 in November 2021. With various updates, many of the maps go through changes. Sometimes, new point of interests are added, and sometimes the map goes through a whole geographical shift. As enjoyable as it can be to play on "remixed" versions of older maps, the new additions can add so much to the experience. So far, a new map has been added towards the tail-end of every year. That will likely continue in 2022.
Apex Legends Character Nerfs and Buffs in 2022
The ongoing support of Apex Legends helps keep it alive. Along with new additions, the Respawn team also takes the time to adjust the Legends and their place in the game, often at the beginning of a season. Fans have been asking for a Crypto buff in Apex Legends for a very long time. It would be a safe assumption that this is finally the year that Crypto receives an upgrade, and maybe even an overhaul. Fans of Mirage have long hoped for modifications, including fixing the glitch that has decoys dying on their own, as well as upgrading the passive to allow him to remain invisible while even reviving himself. Characters like Rampart and Revenant may also get tweaked, thanks to their low pick rate.
The top five most used Legends in Apex Legends are Octane, Wraith, Bloodhound, Pathfinder, and Valkyrie. Respawn often takes its data to determine if a Legend needs to be adjusted. So, it is certainly possible that some of the most used Legends will be nerfed to bring them back to the pack, as the overall goal is for the Legends to be on as equal playing field as possible.
Apex Legends Cross Platform Progression and Other Features
Back in 2020, Respawn shared that it was looking into cross-platform progression for Apex Legends. One of the big reasons why the game has continued to be so successful has to do with the game's cross-platform play functionality. As exciting as it is to play on a console with or against a PC player, for example, the idea that one cannot take progress from one platform to another is a bit of a bummer.
The functionality has not been added yet, as Respawn has shared that there have been issues. It is a big challenge to not only allow the games to progress under one save (whether someone jumps from a Switch to a PC to a PS5), but also to find a way to consolidate everything into one save that players have unlocked already.
In August 2021, Respawn shared that the team is committed to cross-platform progression for Apex Legends, despite the developmental hiccups. It is definitely possible that the feature will be ready and added to the game sometime this year. In terms of other features, fans have been asking for Respawn to add a kill cam to Apex Legends, and 2022 could be the year it is brought to the game. Additionally, an after-action 2D mission replay, much like Turtle Rock Studios's Evolve had, would be an incredible add. It would showcase what every team did around the map, rotations, and what perhaps could have been done differently.
Potential New Apex Legend Game Modes
In 2021, Apex Legends became more than just a battle royale game. Arenas Mode was added to the game as a permanent mode, which pits teams of three against one another in round-based action with each player selecting their loadout. The mode has been generally well-received, but fans are hoping for more. There have been teases from Respawn about new objective modes in Apex Legends, and the new Control LTM is already confirmed, but more in the future could be very exciting.
The introduction of game modes like domination, king of the hill, and capture the flag could introduce a whole new way to play Apex Legends. Respawn could block off and use specific areas of already created battle royale/Arenas maps, or the team could make all new maps designed for these modes (both approaches were used for Arenas). There have been some fan-favorite limited-time modes, like Shadow Royale and Holo-Day Bash, with the latter being very much an objective mode over a battle royale spin-off.
Those Apex Legends modes come and go with events, but the introduction of a new permanent objective playlist would be splendid. There may be a fear that the game's population would be to spread out between so many modes, with Arenas and battle royale both receiving standard and ranked versions. However, a new permanent mode seems like an appropriate next step.
Apex Legends and Titanfall in 2022
Apex Legends has always been connected to Titanfall, as the games share the same universe and lore. The shooter takes place about thirty tears after Titanfall and Titanfall 2's Frontier War. As Apex Legends continues to develop, more Titanfall elements have snuck in. Apex Legends continues to borrow weaponry from Titanfall, with the CAR SMG being the most recent example. Legend Valkyrie was added in 2021, as her father was an enemy Pilot in Titanfall 2. Meanwhile, Ash was a major protagonist in Titanfall 2, and she is the last legend before Mad Maggie. It is likely that Respawn will continue to merge the shooters.
Apex Legends is available now for PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One. Mobile, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S versions are in development.