Development on Apex Legends Mobile is ending, and the servers are going offline. Here is everything you need to know.
Released in May 2022, Apex Legends Mobile brought the hugely popular battle royale to mobile devices; however, since its release, there have been problems, withseasonal updates failing to arrive on schedule.
Those problems, and perhaps the overall global financial situation, have forced Respawn Entertainment to end development, with the game's servers set to go offline in the near future.
But what does this mean for players? And when will Apex Legends Mobile's servers go offline? Below we provide the answers.
What Is The 'Sunset' Date For Apex Legends Mobile?
On January 31, Respawn Entertainment announced development on Apex Legends Mobile was ending, with the company citing the drop in "quality, quantity, and cadence" of post-launch updates as the main reason behind the closure.
It was explained that the game's servers would remain online for a further 90 days, with the servers set to go offline on May 1, 2023, at 4 pm PDT.
From January 31, all in-app purchases have been blocked, and no refunds will be offered for premium content purchased by players. Remaining Syndicate Gold, the game's premium currency, can be spent but not refunded.
After May 1, players will no longer be able to access the servers and play the game.
Will We Get Season 4?
Yes. Season 4: Aspire will be the last seasonal update before Apex Legends Mobile is shut down.
The update, which will launch on February 15, will include the introduction of offensive legend, Horizon, the Olympus map, a tournament mode, a new battle pass, and a signature weapon for Octane.
The developers have promised that events will be held throughout the season, but it is not yet clear if the new battle pass and premium cosmetics will be free or available to those with the required Syndicate Gold.
Is This Really The End For Apex Legends Mobile?
At the moment, it appears so, though Respawn Entertainment has claimed that the team remains "excited about mobile as a platform" and wants to serve the mobile community.
One of the main issues that faced Apex Legends Mobile was that Respawn Entertainment was not the primary developer on the title; instead, it was headed up by Tencent's Lightspeed & Quantum Studios, the team behind PUBG Mobile.
Respawn Entertainment clearly lost confidence in that team and felt it necessary to cut their losses after a series of updates failed to make their release date.
However, there is a glimmer of hope. Since the game's closure was announced, a fan-led campaign has sprung up, trending on Twitter with the SaveApexMobile hashtag and backed by prominent content creators.
GG Legends!Hopefully @ea and @Respawn see the movement we've created and decide not to shut it down on May 1st Every LIKE = 1 hope #apexlegendsmobile #SaveApexMobile pic.twitter.com/gO8SgBaXy9
— LG RoastSmith (@RoastSmith_) February 11, 2023
Many feel that Season 4 answers many of the criticisms the game has faced since launch, but whether this is enough for Respawn Entertainment to reconsider its decision is another matter.
It's worth noting that Apex Legends Mobile was not the only Electronic Arts-published mobile title that ended development on January 31. Battlefield Mobile faced a similar fate, and with tech companies worldwide laying off staff, it may be that economics played as big a part in the game's closure as any development troubles.