Apex Legends Isn’t as Legendary as Fortnite Battle Royale - CivicScience (2024)

Battle royale gaming has taken the video game market by storm over the past few years. Online multiplayer survival games are expected to gross $20 billion in revenue by the end of the year.

Apex Legends is the newest addition to the free-to-play battle royale game scene, published by EA in February. After amassing millions of players within the first month, it seemed that the game was on the fast track to rival Fortnite Battle Royale, which had come to dominate the multi-billion dollar market of battle royale games since its release in late 2017.

An online poll by CivicScience of 6,540 U.S. respondents shows that as of March, Apex Legends had captured 4% of the surveyed population ages 13 and up, with an additional 3% planning to play the game.

In comparison, Fortnite holds 7% of the surveyed population, with a much higher level of awareness — 60% versus just about 25% for Apex Legends. That’s expected, given Fortnite has more than a year on Apex Legends.

We can see the steady growth in Fortnite’s awareness since CivicScience began tracking the game in April 2018 (red line), while gameplay numbers have remained fixed (yellow and blue lines).

However, it doesn’t seem likely that Apex Legends will follow the same trajectory or gain a share of players comparable to Fortnite. Recent reports warn investors that many Apex Legends players are retreating back to Fortnite and the game won’t likely bring EA the boon it was anticipating.

Fortnite VS. Apex Legends

The study looked at trends in gameplay between the two games. As of March, one quarter of Fortnite players said they also played Apex Legends and one quarter were not interested. At the same time, a surprisingly high number of Fortnite players (nearly 40%) had never heard of Apex Legends at all.

Flipped around, more than half of Apex Legends players also played Fortnite, while only 10% had never heard of it.

Digging into player attrition, CivicScience polled more than 4,000 Americans in early April, finding that 80% of the population said they’ve never played either game, while 20% have gameplay experience.

Results were mixed among those with Apex Legends and Fortnite gameplay experience. A small subset of respondents left Fortnite for Apex Legends entirely or reduced their gameplay: 30% say they play Apex Legends and stopped playing Fortnite and 15% say they play Apex Legends and play Fortnite less.

Teens are the Biggest Players

That’s not to say that both games offer the same exact kind of experience. Apex Legends is viewed by some as less approachable than Fortnite’s kid-friendly graphics. However, the data show that both games hold their greatest appeal among the under 18 crowd.

Apex Legends sees the most gameplay with teens under 18 years old, followed by 18-to-34-year-olds:

Of course, Fortnite takes a larger share of both populations, with a notable quarter of teens under 18 who play the game. However, the difference between teens and Millennials is proportionally similar to that of Apex Legends:

In other words, it appears that both games capture similar segments of the population, gender included. Men are about twice as likely to play either Apex Legends or Fortnite than women.

Despite tremendous growth upon release, Apex Legends seems to have settled into a niche following of players, poaching a small percentage of Fortnite players and sharing some others. However, that player base doesn’t stand out from Fortnite’s in terms of age and gender, and Fortnite still leads among battle royale royalty.

Apex Legends Isn’t as Legendary as Fortnite Battle Royale - CivicScience (2024)

FAQs

Is Apex ok for a 12 year old? ›

Apex Legends is rated T (Teen 13+) with Content Descriptors for Blood and Violence and Interactive Elements that include Users Interact (meaning players can communicate online if they choose) and In-Game Purchases (meaning the game offers the ability to exchange real-world currency for in-game currency or items).

Is Apex Legends harder than Fortnite? ›

Regarding difficulty: both are online games, so it's as hard as your enemies make it, yet I have to say the skill ceiling is way lower in Apex than in Fortnite. You want to be good in Fortnite? You better get good at building. For being good in Apex it's enough to know the character's skills.

Why are Apex Legends so hard? ›

Movement is a very, very big part of Apex Legends. It is something that every player — from the pros down to the people new to the game — needs to use effectively. Apex Legends is similar to most other shooters in the sense that you can walk, run, and crouch.

Is Apex legend only battle royale? ›

Game Modes — As of the most recent season, Apex Legends now offers 4 different game modes (Battle Royale, Team Deathmatch, Control, and Gun Run).

Should I let my 13 year old play Apex Legends? ›

Is Apex Legends safe for kids? Although Common Sense Media doesn't recommend Apex Legends for kids under 14, it's possible to play the game safely with the right chat settings and parental guidance. The safest way to play is to be on a squad only with people you know or to mute voice and text chat.

What age should kids play Apex Legends? ›

In the US, Apex Legends is rated T for Teen, recommended for ages 13 and over. In Europe, it has a Pegi age rating of 16+ due to its “sustained depictions of violence against human characters”.

Is Apex or cod harder? ›

The difficulty between these two battle royales is subjective, but Apex Legends is the more challenging video game to play.

Will Apex beat Fortnite? ›

New York (AP) -- For the first time since its meteoric rise, "Fortnite" is no longer a no-doubt victory royale atop the video game industry. "Apex Legends" — a battle royale from Electronic Arts — has charged into the market and smashed "Fortnite" records for downloads and viewership since its release three weeks ago.

Which is more violent Apex or Fortnite? ›

While not massively more violent than Fortnite, the presence of blood splatters when dealing damage and the inclusion of finishing moves does make Apex Legends a slightly more mature game, as highlighted by PEGI's older age guidelines.

Who is the hardest character to hit in Apex? ›

Wraith is arguably the hardest Legend in the game.

Who is the hardest character in Apex? ›

Rampart. Rampart is, in our opinion, one of the most challenging legends to master but supremely effective once you do. Her ability kit is situational with a high skill ceiling, requiring tactical prowess to succeed.

Is Apex hard for beginners? ›

Overall, I was startled by how easy it was for a beginner to jump into Apex Legends. The opening tutorials and the team-based gameplay did a lot to ease my fears about getting situated while others have been playing for years.

Is Apex battle royale skill based? ›

It is usually based on a number of factors that represent your skill and ability to play the game.

Why Apex is better than Fortnite? ›

Apex Legends has a stronger focus on the actual weapons and for most people, the tight first-person shooter controls greatly outweigh the looser third-person shooting and building of Fortnite. Hard to take someone out if they build a house around themselves in two seconds.

What makes Apex so good? ›

Compared to its contemporaries, Apex Legends sets a new standard for battle royales with accessible but elegant controls, enticing equipment like heirlooms, finishers, badges, likable playable characters, and strong dev support in the form of recurring/original seasonal events.

Does apex have swearing? ›

Players communicate with each other with headphones and mics. This audio interaction is not covered by PEGI and ESRB ratings, so although the game isn't rated for profanity, its online nature could expose younger players to offensive language from strangers via the voice or on-screen text chat.

What age plays apex the most? ›

Apex Legends sees the most gameplay with teens under 18 years old, followed by 18-to-34-year-olds: Of course, Fortnite takes a larger share of both populations, with a notable quarter of teens under 18 who play the game.

What is apex parenting? ›

Apex provides In-Home Services with the goal of strengthening and supporting at-risk families. Our program strives to assist in strengthening parental capabilities, creating community supports, building healthy relationships, and creating opportunities to living independent and healthy lives.

Do the Apex Legends characters age? ›

Respawn has quietly updated the ages of the Legends in Apex, adding 1-2 years to many of them. Apex Legends features a roster of versatile legends to choose from. Here's a hub showing the ages of every character in the game.

Why is Apex Legends rated m? ›

Frenetic firefights are accompanied by blood-splatter effects, realistic gunfire, and large explosions. Players can also perform various finishing moves on weakened enemies (e.g., stabbing them with a knife; beating opponents down with fists; electrocuting characters).

Are Apex console lobbies easier? ›

Apex legends hot take Console players will struggle to adapt in pc lobbies due to the advantages between systems. On the flip side, most pc players would struggle to play top tier switching to console with the limitations it has. That's not even hot, just facts.

What battle royale requires the most skill? ›

As mentioned above, the battle royale game that is harder — and therefore requires more skill — is Apex Legends. Again, this is because of how its gameplay works and the various other mechanics users have to keep in mind while playing a match.

What battle royale takes the most skill? ›

Any other battle royale is irrelevant. So out of the big 4, to me Apex has by far the largest skill gap.

Has Apex copied Fortnite? ›

Everything Apex Legends

Some of the biggest innovations featured in Apex Legends, later copied by Fortnite, include: Reviving dead teammates. Vaults full of loot that take keys to enter. Map pings.

Is Apex becoming popular again? ›

Apex Legends has become one of the most popular FPS games since releasing in 2019 as new seasons continue to attract players to the battle royale in 2023.

How many years will Apex Legends last? ›

Respawn wants to take the meaning of ongoing development to another level, keeping Apex Legends alive for up to 15 years. Very few live services stand a chance of making this a reality, but the Apex devs want us to still be playing the game more than a decade from now, and are already making plans in aid of this.

Does Apex have blood? ›

There is some blood and very mild gore. If someone is knocked down the player can shoot him more times. You can perform executions on injured/downed enemies.

Does Apex have more damage? ›

1. Focus on surviving. Although this may seem like an overly simple tip, it's key if you're going to consistently rack up a lot of damage in your Apex games. Ultimately, the longer you're alive in a match, the more damage you can put out and hopefully, reach those damage badge achievements.

Is Fortnite violent yes or no? ›

Is Fortnite too violent for kids? Fortnite: Battle Royale is loaded with violence, but it's all cartoonish, rather than bloody or gory. Since the object is to be the last one standing, you'll constantly shoot other players and dodge fatal storms. However, there's no blood; defeated enemies simply vanish.

Who is the weakest legend Apex? ›

Showcasing 5 worst legends in Apex Legends Season 16
  1. Mirage. Image Credit: EA Sports. Mirage is one of the OG legends that came out with the game. ...
  2. Revenant. Image Credit: EA Sports. ...
  3. Ash. Image Credit: EA Sports. ...
  4. Rampart. Image Credit: EA Sports. ...
  5. Wattson. Image Credit: EA Sports.
Apr 14, 2023

Who is the most toxic characters in Apex? ›

Caustic is a true defensive legend. Here are some tips and tricks to become the most toxic legend in the Apex Games.
...
Strengths
  • Caustic makes any building or closed off area a fortification. ...
  • Being a bigger legend, Caustic has a quality called fortified.
Sep 10, 2022

Who is the most picked character in Apex Legends? ›

1. Pathfinder – 12% – Most picked Legend in Apex Legends Season 17. Respawn Entertainment Pathfinder swings his way to the number one spot.

What does the most damage on a character in Apex? ›

Legends with highest Damage Per Match
LegendDamage Per Match
Crypto418.35
Mirage412.05
Revenant407.93
Bloodhound393.10
9 more rows
Jun 11, 2020

Who is the easiest hero in Apex? ›

Apex Legends: 10 Best Legends for Beginners
  • 10 Rampart.
  • 9 Loba.
  • 8 Octane.
  • 7 Caustic.
  • 6 Mirage.
  • 5 Lifeline.
  • 4 Wraith.
  • 3 Bangalore.
Dec 31, 2022

What is the hardest gun in Apex? ›

The L-STAR is one of the hardest automatic weapons to get value out of. It's worse than every other AR, LMG, and SMG in almost every way, and is notoriously difficult to get used to using. If this is all you get on drop, good luck.

Who is the best beginner legend Apex legend? ›

Lifeline

Lifeline is one of the best Legends for beginners in Apex Legends. She brings a lot to the table and is very hard to mess up. Even if you don't have that good of an aim, you can still provide support to your team by using your D.O.C. Heal Drone.

How do you play Apex for noobs? ›

Apex Legends tips for beginners
  1. Learn the best way to drop. ...
  2. Communicate with your squad. ...
  3. Fill up your inventory and swap it often. ...
  4. Keep your health up and shield charged. ...
  5. Learn to move fast. ...
  6. Always have grenades on hand. ...
  7. Stick with your squad and stay in the Ring. ...
  8. Focus on playing as two to three Legends at first.
Feb 8, 2023

Is Apex Legends aim heavy? ›

While they sure help out a lot, the gameplay evolves mostly around outsmarting your enemy with swift movement and strong gunplay that gravitates heavily towards aim. Having good aim in FPS games is always key but in Apex Legends it comprises more than half of the work to be done in order to win.

What style game is Apex? ›

Apex Legends is a free-to-play battle royale-hero shooter game developed by Respawn Entertainment and published by Electronic Arts. It was released for PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One in February 2019, for Nintendo Switch in March 2021, and for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S in March 2022.

Is Apex less popular? ›

Back in August 2021, EA revealed that Apex Legends averages 13 million weekly active players. Season 9 also set a new record for daily peak players across all seasons. In their earnings call in February 2022, EA said that Apex Legends had a 30% growth in new players year-over-year for the second year in a row.

Why do people like Apex? ›

Many people didn't like that and stuck to PUBG, despite it being an absurdly broken game, and many did, making Fortnite famous. What is it about Apex Legends that everyone likes? Simply put, it's new, and free. The content are somewhat creative and it's a refreshing look for battle royale compared to Fortnite.

Do people play Apex or Fortnite more? ›

Apex Legends has rapidly become one of the most popular games on Twitch and beyond. But Apex Legends viewership is still behind Fortnite. Apex Legends viewership did rise in 2021, but Fortnite is still the most popular game in the Battle Royale genre.

Who is the best Apex player skill? ›

TSM Verhulst hailed as best Apex Legend player

He started competing in 2021 and quickly rose to prominence on Team Intel and Esports Arena.

Why is Apex Legends so unique? ›

Rich lore and storytelling

One of the characteristics that set Apex Legends different from other battle royale games is the rich lore and in-depth storytelling method. Respawn has created rich lore for the game and have elaborated the backstory of each of the character that is relatable and gave a human touch.

Is there blood in Apex? ›

There is some blood and very mild gore. If someone is knocked down the player can shoot him more times. You can perform executions on injured/downed enemies.

Is Apex better then Fortnite? ›

Apex Legends has a stronger focus on the actual weapons and for most people, the tight first-person shooter controls greatly outweigh the looser third-person shooting and building of Fortnite.

Can you turn off swearing in Apex Legends? ›

You can disable or enable the profanity filter by opening the Menu, while logged into a character, and go to Settings -> Social and toggling the Profanity Filter On/Off.

Is Apex Legends more violent than Fortnite? ›

While not massively more violent than Fortnite, the presence of blood splatters when dealing damage and the inclusion of finishing moves does make Apex Legends a slightly more mature game, as highlighted by PEGI's older age guidelines.

Do people still play Apex Legends 2023? ›

Apex Legends live player count

Average concurrent players in April 2023 was 222,749 on Steam only. Given that many players will be on console, Switch, and on PC through the EA App, the overall number could be as high as one million concurrent players.

What age is Ash Apex? ›

Ash
Age~46 (as a human) ~76 (as a simulacrum) ~122 (total age)
HomeworldUnknown
Gameplay
ClassAssault
11 more rows

Is Wraith a girl Apex? ›

This article concerns the subject and the content related to it in Apex Legends. For the subject in Apex Legends Mobile, see Wraith (Mobile).
...
Wraith
GenderFemale
Date of BirthDecember 21, 2701
Age34
HomeworldTyphon
13 more rows

Is Mirage a girl in Apex? ›

For the background of the subject in Apex Legends universe, see Mirage (character).
...
Mirage
GenderMale
Age32
HomeworldSolace
Height5'11" (180.3cm)
12 more rows

Is Valkyrie in Apex a girl? ›

Kairi "Valkyrie" Imahara, born in 2704 on Angelia, was the daughter of Viper, a notorious mercenary who worked for the Apex Predators. She held great respect and admiration for her father, and wished to follow in his footsteps as a Pilot. Viper would often humor her by taking her for joyrides in his modified Northstar.

Is Apex growing faster than Fortnite? ›

While Fortnite took 14 days to reach 10 million players, Apex Legends managed to accomplish the same within three days. Additionally, while Fortnite took more than 40 days to hit 20 million players, Apex managed to break all records by reaching 25 million players within 7 days of the game's release.

Did Apex overtake Fortnite? ›

Even though Apex Legends has gone on to beat Fortnite's player count records, with 25 million players jumping in to King's Canyon within the first week and 50 million within one month. Apex Legends has been rivaling with Fortnite for the top game on Twitch since February.

Do Apex ban cheaters? ›

If you're partying up with confirmed cheaters for multiple matches in a row to boost stats you may get banned.

Does Apex ban for names? ›

Conversation. Warning: if you use inappropriate Club names in #ApexLegends, you will face punishment, up to a full account ban.

Can you get banned for typing in Apex? ›

An Apex Legends player gets banned after typing 'Andrew Tate' in their team chat, prompting discussions on blacklisted terms. An Apex Legends player discovered that typing "Andrew Tate" in chat can get them banned.

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