In an interview with The Loadout, Apex Legends game director Steve Ferreira spoke about future plans for the battle royale. Ferreira talked about Apex Legends’ growth on iOS and Android devices, as well as upcoming support for the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, but also took some time to talk about experimenting with gameplay. LTMs bring “variety” to Apex Legends each season, according to Ferreira. He says that the team at Respawn enjoys creating and playing the LTMs and that the team will continue to do so going forward.

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LTMs aren’t just about changing things up and offering an escape from the main game mode, however. Ferreira also acknowledges that Respawn is using LTMs to try out new ideas with the express purpose of seeing how players react to them. Ferreira mentions that Evo Shields were initially introduced in an Apex Legends LTM. The mechanic worked so well and players responded so positively that it was brought into the full game.

Innovation, Ferreira says, is inherent to the Apex Legends experience and how Respawn looks at the battle royale genre. He says that the development team will continue to push players’ expectations regarding what a battle royale can be. That line isn’t specifically about LTMs, but how Respawn uses LTMs is certainly an example of the company’s philosophy regarding Apex Legends.

To be clear, it doesn’t sound like Ferreira is changing any policy with regard to how Respawn produces LTMs for Apex Legends. The studio has produced many LTMs for Apex Legends, some great and some less so, and will continue to do so going forward. All Ferreira is doing is offering some perspective into how Respawn looks at LTMs as a whole. As one expect, Respawn thinks they’re fun, too.

Respawn’s philosophy toward LTMs isn’t strange in the live-service game space online. Fortnite is also well-known for using LTMs to experiment with gameplay in ways that often find their way into the main game mode. Call of Duty: Warzone is perhaps an example of how players want more experimentation, but is struggling to deliver. Even Overwatch is using experimental cards to try new options for gameplay balance. If anything, LTMs will only become more widespread in Apex Legends and other games going forward.

Apex Legends is available now on PC, PS4, Switch, Xbox One, and mobile devices.

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Source: The Loadout