5 things we want from Apex Legends in 2026: Features and improvements we hope to see

Respawn’s Apex Legends is undoubtedly one of the most popular first-person shooter esports and, in 2026, celebrates its seventh birthday. Apex Legends has lots of plus points but there are five changes we’d like to see this year.

From better systems to stop players opening multiple accounts to more in-game options and tournaments, we think these changes would make Apex Legends an even better playing experience for both new fans of the game and experienced players. We’ll also take you through some of the changes Respawn has planned for 2026, like buffs on popular Legends.

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5 things we want from Apex Legends in 2026

While Apex Legends is one of our favorite games, there are a few common criticisms leveled by players. So, to make Apex Legends even better, there are five main changes and updates we’d like to see in 2026:

1. Legend updates

In 2025, Respawn adopted a policy of updating one Legend at the start of the season and the midway point, rather than trying to make minor changes to all Legends. This was partly due to time, as major buffs take a lot of energy, and also means that the game can evolve rather than drastically shift all at once.

For 2026, Respawn has announced that there’ll be major reworks to three out of the 27 Legends: Octane, Newcastle and Crypto. These are intended to increase these Legends’ pick rates and help their utility in teams.

Any changes take a lot of energy so we don’t know when these buffs will be complete. Respawn also has to think about how any changes they make might cause ripples in the gameplay. Smaller changes are also ongoing to improve general gameplay. For example, earlier this month, the Brain Freeze wildcard was removed as it had been linked to crashes on PlayStation.

2. Increased third-person capabilities

The third-person perspective is possible in some game modes, but we’d like to see it rolled out as a standard option in 2026.

For some time, fans have been clamouring for a third-person mode and we can see why. We love the first-person perspective and that’s one of the ways Apex stands out from other games but third-person does have a few benefits. Not only does it give you a different perspective to appreciate your Cosmetics, it could also attract a bigger base of players who love games like Fortnite.

3. A full calendar of events

One of the criticisms of Apex Legends has been the lack of regular tournaments. But, that looks to be fixed for 2026 so this change has actually been taken care of already.

The playing year begins with the ALGS (Apex Legends Global Series): 2026 Championship in Sapporo, Japan, and cruises into the ESports World Cup 2026 - Apex Legends in July in Saudi Arabia and more S-tier events.

Rather than the peaks and troughs that we’ve been used to in the past, this year’s Apex Legends calendar has a steady stream of events. That leads us straight into our next wish - more varied tournaments to support up-and-coming talent.

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4. More opportunities for new talent

Again, this is something that we’ve seen change over the last few months. The 2025 calendar features lots of C-tier events with prize pots in the hundreds or thousands, creating space for more players to come through.

This variety of events also makes sure that tournaments maintain player interest and help Apex Legends to carve a dedicated fan base among esports.

In addition, the larger range of tournaments means there’ll be more wagering opportunities at Apex Legends betting sites. We’ve got links to the best sportsbooks on this page plus in-depth reviews of each one on our site.

5. Stronger anti-cheating systems

Cheating remains an issue in Apex Legends and it’s hoped that there’ll be better systems in place to prevent this in 2026. For example, it has previously been possible for players to create more than one account. Various systems have been proposed to address this, including requiring players to register for an account using a phone number.

It’s also been suggested that Respawn could introduce a system where players can recoup points lost due to other players cheating.

Final thoughts on Apex Legends updates

According to data from Steam, Apex Legends has around 58,000-78,000 players per month so it’s clear there’s plenty of appetite for this futuristic thriller. Each year, Respawn makes buffs and updates but, by addressing some of the player issues we’ve highlighted, Apex Legends could become the most popular free-to-play game and a great choice at esports betting sites. If you are looking for a trusted sportsbook to place your bet on the next Apex Legends Tournament, check the banners to choose from our list of tested and recommended sites.

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