Apex Legends Mobile is starting to differentiate itself even more from the console version, but its new exclusive character could be a bad move.
Before it was released in May 2022, some players were skeptical about Apex Legends Mobile, especially given the lukewarm response to the Nintendo Switch port. EA and Respawn Entertainment's free-to-play battle royale Apex Legends has enjoyed a consistent level of popularity since it first launched in 2019, but the hero shooter was not originally designed for touchscreens, and some thought a mobile version would suffer in comparison. However, Apex Legends' mobile iteration has proven to be a success, expanding the reach of the title and introducing some brand-new elements.
Apex Legends' mobile version was always going to bring some changes, with a stripped-back character roster and other adjustments setting it apart from its predecessor. These work well for the most part, but the decision to create mobile-exclusive characters has rubbed some fans up the wrong way, as Support character Rhapsody's mobile-only release has shown.
The second season for Apex Legends Mobile is bringing a slew of exciting new content, including a brand-new Support character. The music-minded Rhapsody will help to flesh out the side of the character roster that's not so focused on all-out offensive moves and should balance Apex Legends Mobile's gameplay. Forced to compete in the Apex Games to help her family out of a sticky situation, Rhapsody is a Legend with a ton of heart and a passion for music.
Her abilities include Hype Anthem, a move that speeds up nearby squadmates while also restoring their shields through the power of a well-timed tune. Her robotic helper Rowdy brings its own Perks and assists Rhapsody in her Support role as the two of them navigate the battlefield bringing help to other players. Apex Legends is notoriously skewed towards Offensive characters, as both the original and the mobile version have an overabundance of these types of Legends in contrast to the groups of Defensive, Support, or Recon options. Rhapsody should help redress this imbalance, but this will only affect Apex Legends Mobile for the time being.
Despite fan reservations, Apex Legends Mobile has demonstrated what a successful port can look like. On the surface, not that much has changed, but there are a few gameplay differences that set the mobile version apart from the original base game. One of the biggest changes, however, is the mobile-only content that has been rolling out over the last few months. It's true that Apex Legends Mobile launched with a much-reduced roster compared to its console counterpart, but now it's getting its own characters and the two versions are starting to grow even more apart.
A fresh start for the mobile version made sense and allowed the game to reassess the balance between characters. It also introduced an exclusive Offensive Legend called Fade, but while console gamers may have felt like they were missing out on a new character, Fade doesn't seem like as much of a misstep as Rhapsody. Apex Legends is low on Support Legends, and introducing a new one that will shake up the current meta in all the best ways is a smart move, but not if they're mobile-only. This just creates more division between the versions of Apex Legends and is only focused on improving the experience for some but not all players.
There isn't an inherent problem with the mobile version getting its own unique content, but it seems like the focus should be on the base game and not its mobile port, which arguably has a smaller playerbase. However, with Rhapsody described on the official Apex Legends site as 'Mobile First,' the Support character might make her way over to the base game eventually. Hopefully that's the case.
Apex Legends Mobile is available now for Android and iOS devices.
Jessica is a freelance writer with an unrepentant love of all things sci-fi and fantasy, be it in book, film, or video game format.
