Apex Legends developer Respawn Entertainment has said it will once again allow players to buy the free-to-play shooter’s Battle Pass with premium in-game currency, after previously announcing it would only sell them for real money starting in Season 22.
Earlier this month, Respawn revealed some controversial changes to Apex Legends’ existing Battle Pass system, in a move they claim will provide more “value” for players. One of the changes will see the current seasonal Battle Pass essentially split into two, with Respawn charging players the full price for each half-season Premium Pass for the same duration. In short, it’s double the price.
The change that has drawn the most fan ire, however, is probably Respawn’s decision to start charging real money for Battle Passes, and no longer allow players to purchase them with premium in-game currency. That’s important because Apex Legends’ premium Battle Passes have traditionally rewarded players with enough premium currency to purchase the next season’s Battle Pass.
The studio has now officially reversed that decision in a statement shared on social media. “You guys spoke and we listened,” they wrote. “With the release of Season 22, we’re restoring the ability to earn a Premium Battle Pass for 950 Apex Coins. We recognize that we could have handled Battle Pass changes better – that was our mistake.”
Respawn also confirmed that each Battle Pass will still include enough Apex Coins across the different unlock levels to purchase the next Battle Pass.
“Moving forward, we understand the importance of communicating with you in a more timely, transparent, and consistent manner,” the studio stated. “Your priorities are our priorities: addressing cheating, ensuring game stability, and providing quality-of-life updates are our top concerns. We acknowledge the need for improvement, and that’s why we’re addressing these issues directly… Thank you once again for your passion and dedication to Apex Legends, because we couldn’t have achieved this without you.”
Apex Legends’ 21st season, Upheaval, began in May and is scheduled to end in August. Respawn has confirmed that once Season 22 begins, players will be able to unlock the first of two Battle Passes for free by completing a series of “simple” in-game challenges.
