When Respawn Entertainment released its hero shooter Apex Legends at the start of 2019, it joined various other titles in the genre of free-to-play battle royales that have shot up in popularity in the last few years. Although other games in the genre might dominate headlines and popular culture like Fortnite, Apex Legends more than holds its own against them with its own particular niche in the market. It's had a consistently high player base, and by April 2021 it had reached approximately 100 million players.
However, some of the many fans of the game are asking for some changes. When Apex Legends first launched, the level cap was limited to 100. But after players that were continually putting in hour after hour into the game called on the developers to increase this cap so that they would have something to still strive for once they'd reached that peak, the developer capitulated and increased the level cap to 500. With more players now hitting this new level cap, they're calling out once again for a change to the limit.
Why Another Apex Legends Level Cap Increase Is A Good Idea
Apex Legends has changed a lot since its release, with developers Respawn continuing to support the game with post-launch updates and new content for players to enjoy. With character buffs, new items, modes, and maps continuing to come years after the game's initial release, gamers have been keeping busy exploring all that Apex Legends has to offer. However, there are limits. With loyal fans complaining that there wasn't much to work towards once they'd hit the level 100 cap, developers eventually heeded the cries of gamers and increased this to 500, as well as reducing the XP required to hit 100. Now, it seems as if players are dealing with the same problem yet again, as more and more of them are reaching level 500 and wondering where they can go from there.
With a game model that requires consistent player numbers to function and thrive, it makes sense for Apex Legends to want to ensure that not only is there plenty for gamers to do, but that they also have things to aim for while playing. While playing with friends and even strangers online is fun in and of itself, without the promise of progression some gamers may find themselves moving away from Apex Legends and towards the plethora of other great games in the genre.
There may be other accolades to achieve, such as gaining the 'Apex Predator' title in Ranked mode, but having a target like a max level to aim for is a better shorthand for players to establish themselves as veterans of the game. Gamers can be a fickle bunch, and unless there is a new challenge or something else to strive for to reward them for the hours of gameplay they are putting in, then Apex Legends may start to see a drop-off in its numbers.
Earlier this year, the Design Director at Respawn Entertainment Jason McCord responded to a fan tweet asking about a possible increase to the level 500 cap. Although he said that it was possible, he also hinted that the developers were working on some other fixes to address the issue of progression in the game. While cranking up the level cap number may feel like a superfluous gesture for some, it is certain that something needs to happen to freshen up Apex Legends' progression system and keep players on board.
Apex Legends is available now for PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One. Mobile, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S versions are in development.
