Apex Legends dev on LTMs: Combatting competitors with Respawn, quantifying success, and ‘not ruling out’ an Extraction mode

Many battle royales have been forced into submission recently, as the genre appears to be dwindling in favour of more tactical shooters or extraction games.  

The core game modes have become less valuable as the BR gloss has begun to fade, and aside from the hyper-competitive PUBG Mobile, most arcade BRs are diversifying their portfolios. 

Warzone’s Resurgence mode has been the saving grace for the title in a space where the larger maps have failed. Meanwhile, Fortnite has a bigger catalogue of game modes than you can ever imagine thanks to the UE5 island creator, which again keeps players invested in the title even when the current season of BR gets branded as “ass” by its most loyal players. 

Apex Legends follows a similar model in that it releases countless LTMs, serving both as warm-ups and a general change of pace to the locked-in BR, where your game can change in a matter of seconds if a lapse of concentration occurs.

Following the release of Season 22, Respawn confirmed that a new Knockout mode was coming with “infinite respawns”, continuing the pivot away from the true BR experience which started with both Trios and Straight Shot Revival.

Lead BR Systems Designer, Eric Cavanese told me that more successful modes like Straight Shot are just what Apex Legends needs, as well as detailing that all cards are on the table for the future as he didn’t “rule out” new genres like an extraction-based LTM.

Apex Legends Designer on whether ‘Infinite Respawn’ modes are a necessity or luxury

“We know Apex is a tough game. We know it's tough to get into but it's really a rewarding game,” Cavanese began after I asked him whether or not these infinite respawn game modes are becoming the new norm and necessity for BRs.

He continued, "Playing around in the respawn space is something that can keep players in a game longer, more time on the trigger, more time learning and playing the fun bits of Apex and less time spent in the lobby.

"I wouldn't say Apex needs it, but I think what Apex did need was an approachable way for players to experience the awesomeness that is Apex with lower stakes and just more time in the game. I think it is a really successful mode that kind of accomplished its goals."

As detailed in the Season 22 promotion Knockouts has “that Straight Shot energy”, picking up where the mode left off on September 3. But given its popularity, Straight Shot leaving has raised eyebrows. Cavanese admitted that it was arguably the best mode they’ve ever had, even beating out Arena’s which became permanent for five seasons.

"Straight Shot is probably one of our most successful LTMs. I really got right to the point of Apex - Straight to the point. We did an awesome job with Straight Shot. It was what people wanted. It was boiled down Apex to the most fun bits. It was intense. It was chaotic. But it was good," he said.

Yet these respawn modes or heightened-stakes LTMs still come and go, and despite Straight Shot’s popularity, it will still make way for Knockouts. “Everything's a gamble,” explained Cavanese.

“We'll try something for a week and then maybe it leaves players wanting more. Or we'll try something for a month and it'll have overstayed its welcome. We take it by case by case. We try to build stuff with such personalities that we have to treat them all uniquely.”

Apex Legends designer on future LTMs

Over the years, Apex Legends’ LTMs have varied from quirky and quick small-team mashups to huge BR variants that cast dark upon Kings Canyon. So, after Knockouts, what comes next?

Well, when asked about his future plans and personal favourites, Winter Express was quick off the tongue, with that stylistic being one that appears to be fresh in the mind.

“I liked Dummies Day Out. That one was really good. I'm also a sucker for Winner Express,” he said.

“I like it specifically because it challenges metas. What you run in a BR is not what you run in Winner Express. Different guns, different legends, different tactics. There's a certain style that we like, with non-traditional stuff, I think is very exciting. Kind of like Winter Express, right?

“Using the legends in different ways, with different objectives that aren't necessarily last man standing, is quite compelling and I think it can open the door to really interesting versions of Apex. We've got nothing like that going on right now, but I think that's something that we should be challenging ourselves on and looking for those sorts of opportunities in the future.”

As for what does follow Knockouts, well, aside from the fact that we’ll be edging towards Halloween and the Holiday season where we might be boarding the express once again, Cavanese kept his cards close to his chest.

“We're looking at non-traditional stuff as a way we can evolve Apex, there's just no specifics to really commit to now,” he said. "I can't give specifics but if I want to try it, we'll probably try it. For us, nothing's off the table."

I specifically asked about another genre norm pivot, Extractions, following the likes of DMZ from Call of Duty, yet the specifics continued to be evaded, just rather that the door is always open. "We're always looking for 'what are the best decisions?' " he continued.

"What are the best things that we can add to Apex that support the game that we've currently got and maybe can attract newer players?"

There have been some extraction LTMs in years gone by, namely Season 5's "Hunt" during The Broken Ghost event. Maybe there is scope for a more tactile Tarkov-Apex crossover mode. Maybe not.

Still, we've recently been blessed to see Nessie with her chef's hat on, and Apex Legends' devs seem to be taking cooking lessons from the iconic plush, rustling up a strong future for the battle royale.