Fortnite is giving away free Battle Passes. Is Epic scared of Apex Legends?

There’s no denying that Fortnite is a phenomenon. One of the biggest games of the past couple of years, it’s been comfortably sitting atop the free-to-play, Battle Royale genre for a while.

However, with the launch of EA and Respawn’s Apex Legends and the incredible success, it’s seen in such a short time, it’s no surprise that Epic Games might be concerned.

Thus, it was recently announced that Fortnite players would be able to earn a free Battle Pass for Season 8 and that two Double XP weekends will be held in February.

At launch, Apex Legends includes only one map and eight playable Legends, but that hasn’t stopped players flocking to it.

Fortnite Free Battle Pass

What’s more, Respawn has announced that Apex Legends will soon introduce seasons, with Season One kicking off in March. This will include a Battle Pass, new Legends, weapons, loot and more.

For a long time, Fortnite hasn’t had to contend with any other quality, free-to-play Battle Royale games. PUBG is a paid title and occupies a different space with its focus on realism and difficulty. 

Apex Legends though is free and is a far more arcade experience that offers something fans of hero shooters can enjoy without the building mechanics of Fortnite that can be a turn-off.

To earn your free Battle Pass in Fortnite, players simply need to complete “13 free Overtime Challenges by February 27.” In addition to the Battle Pass, those who complete the challenges “can earn an additional 5 free rewards by completing Overtime Challenges. Battle Pass owners can also unlock free styles for the Trog, Powder, and Onesie outfits.”

The timing of this announcement by Epic can’t be a coincidence and certainly shows that it considers Apex Legends a threat that could potentially cannibalise its player base. In my opinion, it most definitely is.

Apex Legends is a far superior game and it’s only a matter of time before Fortnite players begin to move over.