Apex Legends is taking it back to where it all began with the launch of the previously announced Launch Royale event.
Unlike the previous Launch Royale LTM, the latest limited-time Apex Legends game mode combines the old and new.
This means you can play with all of the old-school weapons, Legends, abilities and rulesets, but on modern Apex Legends maps.
This includes Kings Canyon, World’s Edge, Olympus, Storm Point, Broken Moon, and District.Â
The mode launches as part of the Astral Anomaly event, which includes its own set of rewards.
Apex Legends developer Respawn explains more: “Pick-up 15 otherworldly limited-time cosmetics as you progress through the Astral Anomaly event.
“Each item received during the event counts towards bonus rewards that are automatically unlocked at milestones along the way including 10 Exotic Shards.”
Needless to say, Respawn will also launch a massive new update, complete with balance changes, gameplay tweaks and lots more.
As you can see from the patch notes below, this includes changes to the way Care Packages work, as well as new Gold Weapon rotation and lots more.
The revised rules for Launch Royale can also be seen in the patch notes below.
BALANCE UPDATES
Care Package
• Opening a Care Package now grants EVO to the entire team instead of just the opener
Gold Weapon Rotation
• Charge Rifle, Prowler PDW, Nemesis Burst AR, G7 Scout, CAR SMG
Ring Lethality
• Support Perk benefits will be disabled once a player reaches the Ring Lethality Warning time limit
• Revive Expert benefits will still maintain a long cooldown before re-use after being used inside the ring
MODES
Launch Royale
• Replicator spawns are enabled
 – Each Legend can craft teammate banners at a Replicator
 – Craft Level 1 Armor at a Replicator
• Opening a bin will guarantee you a weapon if you have no weapons
• Ring Timings Adjusted
 – Wait time between rounds will better match current values
 – The closing speed of the ring will be faster
• Map Rotation: Kings Canyon, World’s Edge, Olympus, Storm Point, Broken Moon, & E-District
Rift Relics Continue
• Boost Kits
• Newly added
 – Upgraded: unlocks and activates all Legend Upgrades while equipped
 – Emergency Smoke: release a vision obscuring smoke cloud at your location when you receive damage
 – Map Hack: occasionally pings enemies within range on your minimap for you and your allies
 – Phase Rewind: activating this sends you back to a previous location
• Returning
 – Hover: ADS in the air will allow the player to hover, keeping them afloat and steadying aim
 – Void Reflex: damage that would knock a player instead sends them into the Void for several seconds, returning at critical health
 – Reactive Regen: Health/Shield bars regen over time
 – Squad Heal: using a health/shield consumable also applies it to nearby teammates
 – Nessies: summon Nessie companions to fight on your behalf
• Relic Weapons
• Newly added
 – Relic Pulse Blade: an enhanced version of throwing knife that incorporates small scan at impact location and increased damage
 – Relic Charged Sentinel: keep your Shield Cells, this Sentinel is always charged
 – Relic Charged Rampage: Thermite Grenades are for throwing, this Rampage is always fired up
 – Relic EVA-8 + Double Tap
 – Relic Devotion + EMP: do additional damage to surrounding enemies when you break an enemy’s shield
 – Relic Charge Rifle: the original Charge Rifle on release
• Returning
 – Relic Alternator: Launch Royale variant modified with Disruptor Rounds
 – Relic Mastiff: Launch Royale variant
 – Relic L-Star: Launch Royale variant with high fire rate and limited mag capacity
 – Relic Spitfire: Launch Royale variant with fast reload, improved hipfire, and heavy ammo
 – Relic Wingman: Launch Royale variant with Skull Piercer
 – Relic Prowler: Launch Royale Select Fire (automatic) variant with high power scope
 – Relic G7 Scout: Launch Royale variant with sniper scope
 – Relic 30-30 Repeater: players heal for a percentage of the damage dealt to enemies and monsters
 – If the player succeeds in landing a headshot, health and armor are immediately highly refilled
 – Embedded Dual Loader
 – Mag size of 12
 – Skullpiercer Hop-Up
 – EPG-1: single fire, direct energy propelled launcher