Nearly six years after its debut, Apex Legends has been on a journey of continuous improvement, constantly evolving with updates and changes. A glimpse into its past was offered with the Launch Royale Limited Time Mode (LTM), which took players back to a near-season zero version of the game. While it maintained some modern conveniences like the interface and included Octane and Wattson, it mostly showcased content from when the game first launched, reminiscing the spirit of its early days.
If anything, the experience highlighted just how much slower the pace was back then compared to the present day. Apex Legends has carved out a niche in the battle royale genre by brilliantly weaving mobility and action. Sure, some players might still choose to sneak their way to victory, but the thrill of engaging in battles and truly earning that win remains unmatched. Seeing Apex’s iteration over time through Launch Royale was intriguing and left room for even more exploration.
Envisioning a ‘Yearly Royale’ event could deepen this experience for Apex Legends. Although it might be a logistical challenge, the idea of rotating through different yearly experiences—from its inception through subsequent years—offers a fascinating proposition. Each rotation could convey how gameplay and elements evolved annually. For instance, even as a longstanding player, I couldn’t pinpoint without searching when exactly EVO shields came into play, though it feels like it wasn’t later than the second year.
Nostalgia can be a double-edged sword, often painting the past in a more favorable light. A Yearly Royale might help demystify and deliver a balanced view over time. The diminishing returns could be there as Apex Legends legacy becomes evident, but for veterans, reliving the timeline and pinpointing the arrival of their favored legends would be a treat. Concurrently, new players could dive into this historical journey, gaining insight into the game’s evolution from its roots.
That said, there’s no guarantee such an event will materialize, at least not in this exact format. Offering year-by-year experiences could be an incredible journey through time, yet Respawn, having already delivered Launch Royale, might find other ways to highlight these transformations. While offering a specific year’s experience next season might not carry the same weight as a full-fledged Yearly Royale, the content and characters that enriched Apex Legends over the years undoubtedly invite inventive exploration.
