Given that not all PC players are on Steam, the true number of Apex Legends players is likely in the millions.
Apex Legends surpassed its all-time record for concurrent active players, hitting 610,433 at around 6 a.m. PT on Feb. 15. Respawn Entertainment and Electronic Arts' (EA) battle royale shooter reached new heights following the release of Season 16, which included a class rework, introduced Team Deathmatch, and a brand-new Battle Pass.
Given that Steam is only one platform that Apex Legends can be launched through, and many players will instead play through just EA Origins, bypassing Steam, the true number is likely much higher. Across all platforms, the number of Apex Legends players could have surpassed a million.
Apex reaches new heights with Season 16
The game's rise in popularity aligned directly with both the aforementioned release of Season 16, the conclusion of the ALGS Split 1 Playoffs, and the cancellation of Apex Mobile. These three major events in the Apex timeline pushed player numbers to new heights.
Despite being released in 2019, Apex Legends’ fortune has been up and down as well. The game has a dedicated core fanbase who love it alongside a vibrant esports scene. But the somewhat lukewarm treatment from publisher EA occasionally causes its fans to speak out.
However, clearly, nothing can keep fans away from these new features, with the much-requested Team Deathmatch bringing in a whole new audience. As a result, Apex has jumped from fifth on the most-played list on Steam to second place, pushing past the likes of PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS and Dota 2.
But the game may need help to settle into this spot on Steam. CS:GO isn’t going to give up its crown easily, and Dota 2 has seen many flavors of the month pass it and drop back down. Respawn Entertainment will have to keep delivering Apex Legends content if they want to maintain this record jump in players.