EA is shutting down both Apex Legends Mobile and Battlefield Mobile in a move that marks a dramatic shift in the company’s mobile strategy. Apex Legends Mobile launched just last year, and, besides having mobile exclusive heroes Fade and Rhapsody, it boasts the Apple Game of the Year 2022 accolade and recently hit $40m in revenue. The mobile game cancellations also mean the closure of Industrial Toys studio.
In an official statement, EA explains that “[despite] a strong start, the content pipeline for Apex Legends Mobile has begun to fall short of that bar for quality, quantity, and cadence.” Considering the effort Respawn poured into the title and the recent launch, a total closure is still a shocking move. Furthermore, EA doesn’t intend to offer players refunds on in-app purchases, per the terms of the EA User Agreement. The official servers for Apex Legends Mobile close at 4 pm PDT on May 1, 2023.
EA CEO Andrew Wilson offers further details in the company’s Q3 Earnings Call, saying that “despite [a] strong start, the ongoing experience was not going to meet the expectations of our players.” However, Wilson hints at a possible return for either title in the future, but perhaps as part of the console infrastructure in a similar way to Fortnite, as he claims “we’ve learned a great deal and have plans to reimagine a connected Apex mobile experience in the future.”
Apex Legends Mobile co-developer Respawn tweeted a statement today thanking players for their support. The Respawn team said, “We enjoyed every second of bringing the magic of the Apex universe to an even larger audience. Thank you for the memories, the battles, and the shared adventures!”
The closure of Battlefield Mobile is less surprising, but it comes alongside news of the closure of its development studio Industrial Toys. The number of employees laid off is currently unclear. Clearly, Electronic Arts continues to struggle to find any footing in the mobile space, especially alongside strong competition from Krafton’s PUBG Mobile and Activision’s Call of Duty.
That’s it for now, folks! We’re sad to see the closure of Apex Legend Mobile and Battlefield Mobile, so if you’re a fan of either looking for a new home, be sure to check out our guide to the best mobile shooters next.