Jacob ‘HisWattson’ McMillin, a professional player and streamer of Apex Legends, recently shed light on discussions he held with various internal staff members involved in the game’s development. His insights suggest possible reasons for the ongoing decline in player numbers.
The year 2024 has seen a notable drop in Apex Legends’ player base, particularly evident in Steam’s public statistics. Notably, on Christmas Day, the game reached its lowest player count since being officially launched on the platform, sinking to approximately 46,000 active users.
Within the Apex Legends community, several theories have emerged regarding this declining trend. Three frequently cited factors include:
- Insufficient new content releases
- Challenges within the Ranked mode
- Intense competition from more recent or captivating games
HisWattson has consistently showcased his skills at the top tier of competitive Apex Legends.
Insights into Internal Management Issues
According to HisWattson, the crux of the game’s struggles can be traced back to management practices at Respawn and EA. He detailed, “I have conversed with numerous Respawn team members across different departments, including art, security, map design, game balancing, and community management.”
In his dialogues with these employees, two recurring sentiments emerged: “We want to do (blank), but we’re not allowed,” and “All our suggestions fall on deaf ears.”
These statements point to an overarching issue: HisWattson asserts that “upper management is either negligent, lazy, or has motives that do not align with players’ best interests.” He expressed frustration, stating, “Almost every Respawn employee I’ve encountered has been overflowing with talent and enthusiasm for the game, yet they feel stifled by their higher-ups.”
HisWattson further lamented the waning passion among developers, noting, “It’s disheartening to witness them gradually lose hope and enthusiasm for the project.” He emphasized that this trend impacts not just morale but the overall quality and innovation within the game.
Moreover, HisWattson called attention to EA’s tendency to suppress community-generated content. In contrast, competitor games like Minecraft and Fortnite thrive by promoting user-created contributions. Unfortunately, he claims that Apex Legends modders and anyone discussing mods are met with rebuke from Respawn.
Fellow professional player ImperialHal has also voiced concerns regarding the current state of Apex Legends and has proposed his own strategies for revitalizing the game.
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