Respawn Entertainment announced a standalone mobile version of its popular battle royale game, Apex Legends. Apex Legends Mobile will be a completely separate game from its parent product and feature enhanced controls and thorough optimizations for the mobile platform. For this reason, Apex Legends Mobile will not feature cross-play with the PC and console versions. However, like Apex Legends, the mobile version will be entirely free-to-play, with players offered to buy cosmetic items and battle passes for each successive season. These purchases will not actively impact gameplay.
Respawn Entertainment revealed that the mobile version of the team-based elimination shooter game is currently in closed beta but will open up to players as soon as spring 2021. Apex Legends Mobile competes in the mobile market with the already-established Fortnite and PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds.
Image Credit: Respawn Entertainment, Electronic Arts (EA)
Why This Trend Is Growing
- Standalone Mobile Games
- Expanding popular franchise games to mobile platforms as standalone versions presents an opportunity for developers to tap into the growing mobile gaming market.
- Mobile Battle Royale Games
- The popularity of battle royale games on consoles and PCs has inspired the development of mobile versions as a way to reach an even wider audience on the increasingly mobile-first market.
- Mobile Gaming Monetization
- The free-to-play model combined with in-game purchases for cosmetic items and battle passes allows game developers to effectively monetize mobile games without requiring players to pay upfront.
Industries Being Reshaped
- Video Game Development
- Developers can capitalize on the success of popular console and PC game franchises by creating standalone mobile versions to expand their reach and revenue.
- Mobile Gaming
- The continually-growing mobile gaming market presents opportunities for game developers to create new and innovative mobile games or port successful console and PC games to mobile.
- Digital Advertising
- The free-to-play model of mobile games combined with in-game advertising presents opportunities for businesses to tap into the growing mobile gaming audience with targeted ad campaigns.
