If you’ve been part of the Apex Legends community long enough, you must have already heard murmurs of EA’s greed, and how it has affected the battle royale game. We’ve seen Apex Legends developer Respawn Entertainment (possibly) bend to EA’s whims to change several of the game’s money-making strategies.
From heirlooms and recolored skins to other in-game events and collaborations like the Final Fantasy Rebirth crossover, we have seen Respawn test new ways to sell more in-game content to players. The prime example is the ongoing Shadow Society event that brings a new type of universal Mythic Melee cosmetic, called Apex Artifact.
However, if recent leaks are to be believed, then Respawn is not done yet and plans to build on the Apex Artifact rollout with a new in-game currency.
Apex Legends is getting an Exotic currency
Oh yeah, Apex coins and Heirloom Shards may soon be joined by another new in-game currency called Exotic Shards. This leak comes from the same person, @Osvaldatore on X, who recently shared the next legend Alter’s abilities and in-game model.
In an X post (aka tweet) shared by Osvaldatore, we learn how the new Exotic Shards will work in-game. But, before we proceed further, let’s make one thing clear, and that’s how existing currencies in the game work.
Heirloom Shards are purely luck-based and can only be obtained via in-game Apex packs. There have been, however, instances where you could buy them using real-world money, but that’s basically limited to Anniversary events. As for Apex coins, you need to spend real-world money to obtain them and unlock cosmetics in-game.
Circling back to Exotic Shards, the leaker reveals that they can also be obtained through Apex Packs, the same way you do Heirloom Shards. However, you will have the option to spend real-world money to get Exotic Shards.
What can you buy with Exotic Shards in Apex Legends? The leaker has revealed that as well. It looks like Exotic Shards will enable you to unlock the limited-edition Apex Artifacts and reactive weapon skins.
Does this mean, I can buy old reactive skins that were previously part of the battle pass in Apex Legends? A genuine question indeed. Someone else on X had the same query, and it looks like Respawn will offer more reactive weapon skin recolors for a price.
Respawn knows that reactive weapon skins are quite well-received and much-loved by its player base, so recolors for these skins is a definite money-making proposition. And this is where EA comes into the picture.
EA wants more money out of Apex Legends
Do we need another in-game currency in Apex Legends? That’s the exact question I asked myself when I saw the leak. Not really, right? So, who’s behind this idea?
Though no one can say for sure, EA is probably at the center of it all. The gaming giant has turned up the focus on live-service games, which now make for close to three-quarters of their revenue. The company might not have expected it, but Apex Legends arrived on the scene five years ago and took off in an unreal fashion. The game is now in its 20th season, with over 25 ability-focused characters.
Now, in order to continue making profits and growing its business, EA needs to come up with new strategies to monetize its live-service games with massive player bases. And Apex Legends, of course, tops the list with over 350,000 players turning to the game on the daily. So, it’s natural that Apex Legends is getting a new currency that you spend real-world money on. What an exotic idea, am I right?
It might sound like I’m complaining about the addition of a new in-game currency here, but I’m really not. Respawn has been trying to monetize reactive skin recolors, and it seems to have found a way after the $160 Havoc reactive skin recolor debacle that left a sour taste in the player’s mouth. And it makes sense. But there are bigger problems at hand.
Currently, from a player’s point of view, it looks like Respawn is more focused on devising new ways to have its players spend money on the game rather than fixing the boatload of issues with their game.
Of recent, Apex Legends has been suffering from issues and bugs left and right. Be it pro players like ImperialHal getting hacked mid-competitive match or the bug that recently wiped player accounts and progress, what the game needs right now is not an exotic new currency but a health-focused update. The community has been demanding one for the longest time, and now, seeing the game buckling under pressure – with cheaters running rampant and bugs piling up – has made me sure that it’s the need of the hour.
So, EA or Respawn whoever accidentally stumbles upon this post, save your new Exotic Shards for a later date and get to work on fixing your game, so it can touch new heights. Apex Legends, with its movement mechanics, ability-focused legends, and rich lore, has earned a spot among the best live-service games. Please don’t ruin that legacy in a rush to make a quick buck.
What is your opinion on Exotic Shards? Do they sound like a good idea? Let’s discuss it in the comments below.
