Apex Legends Cross-Progression Likely to Land In 2022
In a Reddit AMA, Apex Legends developer Respawn Entertainment said cross-progression will likely be added to the game in 2022. A few changes are coming to the battle arena game in the future, with one being a balancing patch for Seer, who Respawn admitted is slightly too strong.
Cross-progression capabilities are becoming an increasingly valued asset to general gameplay experiences, especially for online multiplayer games like Apex Legends. Last year, popular free-to-play game Fortnite announced that players can carry over their progress and purchases to any console by making an account with developer Epic Games. The feature subsequently allowed players to transfer their previous game data to the then-new PlayStation 5. Seeing as Apex Legends will be available on mobile devices sometime in the future, Respawn is making necessary additions to the game by looking to implement cross-progression so that players can have a seamless experience across different consoles.
In a recent Reddit AMA, a user asked Apex Legends director of communications Ryan K. Krigney about a "rough timeline" for cross-progression capabilities. Krigney definitively answered cross-progression will arrive in Apex Legends next year but also explained the wait. He highlighted how complicated attaining cross-progression can be, saying, "It's not only that you have to solve the technical challenge of merging existing accounts, but there are also legal and contractual issues to navigate with purchasing on other platforms." However, Krigney was quick to double-down on Respawn's commitment to delivering cross-progression soon, even despite the obstacles around the mechanic.
Recently, Apex Legends also faced some unfortunate setbacks, causing its work on cross-progression capabilities to experience delays. In early July, multiple hackers targeted Apex Legends to protest fellow Respawn game Titanfall's succumbing to cheaters and exploits. The hacks on Apex Legends were executed to get the attention of both Respawn and EA, and implore them to make the game a fairer experience for players. Later, Apex Legends game director Chad Grenier tweeted that the hacks had slowed down the game's cross-progression development process due to being trumped by the need to solve live game issues.
Even though the wait for cross-progression in Apex Legends continues, the news that it will arrive next year guarantees fans will see this mechanic soon. Moreover, it's better knowing Respawn is working to get the cross-progression capabilities off the ground at all – even if such news is delivered through announcements about hacks and delays. Once these features are finally added to the game, though, it will hopefully be worth the wait.
Apex Legends is available on PS4, Xbox One, PC, and Nintendo Switch.
Source: rkrigney/Reddit