Apex Legends delivers a squad-based battle royale experience with a uniquely Respawn flavor. Players will select from one of eight Legends - each with their own unique abilities and playstyles - and the last team standing wins. Combatants can choose from unique characters like Bloodhound, the tracker who can see recent enemy activity on the map, or Lifeline, a battlefield medic who can shield teammates and bring them back from the brink of death. Balanced squads and teamwork are critical, as each Legend is easy to pick up and learn, but challenging to master.

Apex Legends showcases several new genre-leading innovations, starting before players even start the match. Once players are ready to begin, they’ll choose their drop point with the Jumpmaster system, giving each squad full control over exactly where they drop in. Is it smarter to head straight for the most valuable loot and risk early conflict with other teams, or make for one of the outlying areas to plot an attack and let other squads pick each other off?

Today, EA and Respawn Entertainment announced a new Summer Circuit in the Apex Legends Global Series (ALGS), a four-month series of online competition boasting $500,000 in prize money and bringing the Apex competitive community together. The ALGS Summer Circuit gives competitors more opportunities to compete while ensuring the safety of everyone involved as the competition and broadcasts will be produced with EA’s cloud-based broadcast production technology.

Over the past couple of months, the ALGS has averaged more than 600 teams across its five Online Tournaments and EA will continue to invite competition from around the world when the Summer Circuit begins on June 20. The ALGS Summer Circuit will culminate with the September Playoffs which will feature “Super Regional” gameplay, pairing the best across regions in the following contests: Europe with the Middle East & Africa, North America with South America, Greater Southeast Asia with Australia & New Zealand, and Japan with Korea.

EA will broadcast these games across its channels including Twitch and YouTube on Sundays throughout the Summer for fans to catch their favorite teams, including ad hoc gaming, Team SoloMid, Made in Thailand 2, SCARZ White, Team Fearow and more.

The Apex Legends Global Series has seen significant growth in tournament viewership, tripling reported Average Minute Audience (on the Apex Twitch and YouTube channels) from Online Tournament (OT) #2 to OT #3 in just 14 days. OT #6 is set to begin on Friday, May 29, and is shaping up to continue the action. 

The innovations don’t stop there as Apex Legends also delivers Respawn Beacons, one-time use locations where defeated teammates can be revived, a contextual Ping communication system that allows players to call out enemies, weapons, locations and more with the push of a button, and an intelligent inventory system which automatically attaches gear and equipment to the appropriate weapons once players pick them up. All together it creates a battle royale experience unlike any other, complete with Respawn’s commitment to top-notch quality and fun.

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