The Current State of Apex Legends in 2025

Apex Legends, Respawn Entertainment’s flagship battle royale, has now passed its sixth anniversary—and in many ways, it feels like the game is at a crossroads. While it remains one of the most mechanically rewarding and fast-paced shooters in the genre, the community has become increasingly vocal about the game’s persistent issues, questionable monetization strategies, and balance changes that have drastically shifted how it’s played.

In this article, we’ll break down where Apex Legends stands today—from gameplay and meta shifts to player sentiment, ranked system controversies, and what Respawn needs to address to keep Apex from sliding further down the competitive shooter ladder.

A Shrinking Yet Passionate Player Base

Let’s start with the numbers. Apex Legends is no longer the juggernaut it was in its early years. Steam charts show a notable decline in peak concurrent players throughout 2024 and into 2025, with daily active players dropping by roughly 30% compared to its peak in 2022. Twitch viewership has also declined, as fewer top streamers continue to prioritize the game.

However, those who still play Apex tend to be diehards—skilled players who value its unique movement mechanics, tight gunplay, and hero-based gameplay. There’s a strong community that still engages with custom games, fan-made tournaments, and Reddit theorycrafting about buffs and nerfs. But the overwhelming sentiment is clear: the game is losing momentum.

Gameplay Still Shines—But Bugs Dull the Shine

There’s no denying that Apex Legends still offers some of the best FPS mechanics in the industry. Sliding, wall climbing, and the verticality of the maps make movement in Apex feel exhilarating. Gunplay is snappy, and the interplay between different Legends' abilities can lead to incredible moments of synergy.

Unfortunately, recent updates have introduced a slew of bugs and performance issues across platforms. Players on consoles have reported frame drops and crashes, especially in ranked lobbies. Audio issues, a long-standing problem in Apex, continue to go unaddressed despite repeated community feedback.

Meta and Balance: Stale or Just Settled?

The current Legend meta is dominated by a few key picks. Bangalore, Revenant Reborn, and Conduit have seen high pick rates in both casual and competitive play. Bangalore’s smoke + Digi combo remains incredibly strong, and the buffs to Revenant’s hitbox and tactical cooldown have made him a top-tier duelist.

Meanwhile, power-creep has hit several original Legends. Mirage, Wattson, and Crypto are still underwhelming outside of niche playstyles. Newer Legends often enter the game overtuned and are later nerfed after community outcry—creating a frustrating cycle for balance.

Weapons, too, have seen controversial changes. The R-301 remains a favorite, but recent nerfs to the Flatline and Volt have left SMG players scrambling. Shotguns are in a decent spot overall, though the Peacekeeper’s hipfire RNG still draws complaints.

Ranked Mode: Constant Tweaks, Persistent Problems

Ranked mode has been the focus of multiple system overhauls over the past two years. The current iteration rewards placement more than kills, leading to overly passive play in mid-to-high tiers. Masters and Apex Predator lobbies often devolve into who-can-hide-the-longest rather than who-can-fight-the-best.

Matchmaking is also under scrutiny. Many Diamond and Master-ranked players find themselves paired with Gold-tier teammates, resulting in imbalanced matches and tilted games. Respawn has acknowledged this issue but hasn’t implemented a meaningful solution.

Respawn’s introduction of “rank resets” every split has also caused burnout among longtime players. Climbing the same mountain every 60 days for rewards that feel insignificant has diminished motivation for many competitive players.

Monetization and Store Fatigue

Cosmetics in Apex Legends have always been a strong draw, with high-quality skins, themed events, and heirlooms. But in 2025, the monetization model has become more aggressive—and more divisive.

Store bundles now regularly cost $30+, with recolors often locked behind $100 collections. The paywall for heirloom shards has become steeper, and many players feel nickel-and-dimed by limited-time events that offer minimal gameplay content.

There’s also growing criticism about the Battle Pass. Once a satisfying grind, it now features recycled content and XP requirements that push players toward purchasing tiers. Compared to competitors like Fortnite or Call of Duty, Apex’s monetization feels increasingly out of touch.

Limited-Time Modes and Events: Hit or Miss

One of Apex’s strengths has always been its limited-time events (LTMs). However, recent LTMs have been underwhelming. Mode variety has shrunk, and instead of exciting new gameplay experiments, we’re seeing recycled ideas with slightly different skins.

Control mode was a hit, but it rarely returns. Gun Run and TDM have their fans, but neither has evolved in meaningful ways. Players want more dynamic content that rewards engagement, not just more cosmetics tied to cash-only bundles.

Esports: A Fading Flame

The Apex Legends Global Series (ALGS) remains active, but the scene isn’t what it used to be. Several top organizations pulled out in 2024, citing ROI concerns and lack of developer support. Prize pools have shrunk, and technical issues have plagued official broadcasts.

Still, community-driven tourneys continue to thrive in smaller circles. The grassroots support for Apex esports hasn’t died—it’s just no longer center stage.

Community Sentiment

Across Reddit, Twitter, and YouTube, Apex players are speaking out louder than ever. Some of the most common complaints include:

• Poor matchmaking and ranked design
• Unaddressed bugs and audio issues
• Stagnant metas and weak LTMs
• Overpriced cosmetics and store burnout

It’s not all negative. Many still praise Respawn’s attention to animation quality, weapon feel, and the uniqueness of its movement system. But the trust between the dev team and the player base is clearly strained.

What Respawn Needs to Do

To revive Apex Legends and retain long-term interest, Respawn must address several core issues:

1. Fix the bugs – Especially audio and server issues.
2. Rework Ranked – Prioritize fairness, meaningful progression, and skill-based matchmaking.
3. Balance the Legend pool – Buff older characters to bring them in line with newer kits.
4. Rethink monetization – More transparency, better value, and less reliance on FOMO.
5. Invest in new LTMs – Bring innovation back to limited-time content.
6. Support esports again – Reinstate organizational partnerships and fix production.

Final Thoughts

Apex Legends in 2025 is still an exhilarating experience—but it’s wrapped in layers of fatigue and frustration. The community wants to love the game. They just need Respawn to meet them halfway.

There’s hope on the horizon. Rumors of a major Season 25 overhaul, including cross-progression, a new movement legend, and revamped map rotations, could breathe new life into the title. But hope won’t be enough if the core problems aren’t addressed.

Apex isn’t dead—but it’s time for it to evolve again.

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For more on competitive shooters, check out our coverage of Black Desert Online's June Update and the evolving Meta in Vindictus: Defying Fate.