The Apex Legends Global Series Split One Playoffs may be over, but Split Two will be here before anyone knows it. Then, in the blink of an eye, it will be the championships. Of course, it's important to stop and smell the roses, as the recent Playoffs no doubt made history and made memories. DarkZero broke records, a new winner emerged in Reject Winnity, and each match had its fair share of awe-inspiring moments, whether it was a surprising 50/50 win, an incredible Kraber shot, or just a fun player pop-off.

During the event, Game ZXC sat down with ALGS commissioner John Nelson to discuss the past, present, and future of Apex Legends esports. We discussed how decisions like locations are made, what makes Apex Legends esports so special, and he offered advice to those who want to see themselves on ALGS' stage in the future. The following transcript has been edited for clarity and brevity.

All Images Credit - EA | Joe Brady @joebradyphoto

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ALGS Split One Playoffs

Q: Could you introduce yourself and explain what you do as the commissioner for our audience?

A: I'm John Nelson, commissioner of Apex Legends esports. I'm responsible for everything that is Apex Legends esports. We have a really strong cross-functional team within EA, both my team and others within EA esports, and together, we're putting on not only this show here this weekend, but all of the online competition and marketing as well

Q: With ALGS underway, what's keeping you specifically busy during the event? Have you been able to kick back and enjoy any matches?

A: Sunday is definitely the day to kick back and enjoy the show. By that time, we've sorted everything that might have cropped up over the first three days, and just get to sit back and enjoy Match Point and all the hype that the players and fans bring to our championship Sundays.

Yeah, I keep myself busy throughout the days of the competition. I'm responsible for a lot in our run-up to shows like this, managing the preparations, but you know, when we actually get on site, I get to sort of take a step back and see the field, make sure everybody out there has what they need. and everything's running smoothly. I'm all over the place, but in a good way.

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Q: I wanted to get your thoughts on the high-level players Apex Legends has gathered over time. What's your general thought on the roster of players here at ALGS?

A: Something that is just really cool to me every time we do one of these big LANs is just how many nations around the world are represented. I mean, it's the Apex Legends Global Series, so emphasis on global. That might be the most surprising thing that there are so many nations, but I still think it's cool to see all these teams coming from South America, China, Europe, Japan, and other places in Asia. There are obviously more local folks coming from the US, Canada, and Mexico too, so yeah that's the coolest thing to me - just seeing how diverse that roster is from a national representation standpoint.

The Growth of Apex Legends Esports

Q: A lot has changed in Apex and esports since its inception. What do you think has changed the most about Apex and esports over the past four years?

I think the meta of the game itself has changed the most. I remember the early days of Apex Legends esports when every single team ran Wraith, Pathfinder, and Wattson, literally every single team. There was no differentiation. That was how you played competitive apex then, and obviously, that has changed a lot over the years.

25 legends now, and you see most of them played throughout a weekend like this. It's really cool to see the diversity and strategies that come from the teams, and even the regional strategies when you get to see where those come from. You get to see those clash when everybody comes together, so yeah, I think that's what's changed the most.

I give all the credit to Respawn and the development team who continue to keep the game fresh with the meta changes, the Upgrade paths now with Season 20, and who keep the mix of power across the Legends of each class. I expect that team to continue to do these things that shake things up and make each one of our events, like this weekend, unique.

Q: How does Apex Legends esports in particular differ from other types of esports?

A: I think when you walk into the building, when you walk into Galen Center to sit down and watch Apex Legends esports, probably the first thing that pops out as different is our stage and the fact that it is a battle royale. We've got this amazing, massive stage where 60 players are competing at the same time.

We've got all the gameplay screens, the map screens, the Series standing screens, and the LEDs with Legend Picks, team names, and such. It's a pretty awe-inspiring sight. I think the stages we've put together for our events stand out, and obviously, Match Point is a pretty big differentiator for us. It's something we created for Apex Legends because Battle Royales need that climactic ending that they were lacking previously. We needed to have that intensity you're going to see on Sunday from all the teams trying to win that final match, and win the tournaments. That's been a really fun addition for us that, you know, fans and players both can get behind.

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Q: What factors go into choosing a location for ALGS? Why Los Angeles for the Split One Playoffs this year?

A: A lot of factors go into that decision, again we are the Apex Legends Global Series, so we want to take our show around the world. We hadn't been to the United States in quite a while. The last time was the year two championship in Raleigh, July of 2022, so it had been a minute since we were in the US. We'd never been to the West Coast, so there are not a lot of spots better on the West Coast than LA. Plus, we know we've got a really enthusiastic player base and esports fan base here.

Q: Do you think the overall format of ALGS is locked in now or is it something that's kind of always open to changes in the future?

A: Always open to changes. We've tweaked things every off-season, sometimes in-season. We're always looking to the players, the fans as well, for feedback. We take that in, always looking to improve the ALGS format. Yeah, it's certainly not locked in, and we're already thinking about what we might tweak for ALGS Year 5 and that sort of stuff. We're going to keep iterating on it and perfecting until the moment we think of the next thing we can do to help us improve.

Q: Do changes inside Apex Legends or its meta affect the events or anything on your end?

A: That's a good question. I mean, obviously, it impacts things from a player standpoint, and you have to give so much credit to the pro players for their ability to dissect the changes that come out in a season launch or a mid-season patch. They turn that around into the meta because the studio is making changes to the game, and they might do those things with certain intentions of this or that gaining or losing power. Balance changes, those sorts of things. But at the end of the day, it's the prop players who are setting the meta. I don't think you can give them enough credit for how they react and how they make each event feel unique in ways that change how you play the game.

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Q: What would you say to any aspiring Apex Legends pros and to the teams competing about the future of Apex esports?

A: I would say we are always looking to improve. Don't hesitate to reach out and provide us with your feedback from a competitive standpoint. I think there was an interview on stage earlier today where people were talking about controlling what you can control. Don't give up. Those are the important messages because it's not over till it's over. The Match Point format will echo that. It's something that contributes to the fun of Sundays. It doesn't matter how far down the standings you are on a Sunday; you're always in control of your destiny.

I think there's this thought in traditional sports where, if all you need to do is make the playoffs to win, you control your own destiny, right? You don't need anybody else to do anything to help you make the Playoffs and we see that in the Match Point format, so everyone controls their own destiny. They could have zero points after five matches, and it doesn't matter. As long as someone else hasn't closed it out yet, they can always come back and win. To bring this back around, yeah, the message to aspiring pros is to never give up because you never know when things will go your way. That next game, that next series, you could see yourself from the Pro League to the Championship this year, next year.

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