Respawn Entertainment and Electronic Arts (EA) have recently made significant changes to the Apex Legends Battle Pass system in response to widespread community criticism. The controversy began on July 8th when a new Battle Pass structure was introduced for Season 22, which was met with immediate backlash from players.
Initially, the new system proposed two separate Battle Passes for each season split, and players could not purchase either using the premium in-game currency, Apex Coins.
In light of this feedback, Respawn announced changes to the Battle Pass structure on July 24th. The company acknowledged the criticism and expressed its intention to improve the value of the Battle Pass. Key modifications include:
- Restoring the ability to purchase the Premium Battle Pass with 950 Apex Coins.
- Offering players the chance to unlock the Premium Battle Pass during the first split of Season 22 by completing in-game challenges.
- Introducing new Battle Pass tiers: Ultimate and Ultimate+.
Players cannot purchase the Ultimate tier, priced at $9.99 USD, with Apex Coins, but it includes all Premium rewards plus gives an instant reward of eight Apex Packs and 1,200 Crafting Materials. The Ultimate+ tier, costing $19.99, offers additional benefits such as double Exotic Shards, exclusive Legendary skin variants, and unlocks for all Legends in the game.
Respawn’s official statement emphasized their commitment to improving the Battle Pass system and apologized for the poor handling of the initial announcement. The company stated that players would be able to earn the Premium Battle Pass through the first split of Season 22 by completing a series of simple in-game challenges.