The world of Apex Legends continues to evolve with increasing intensity, and Season 27, named “Amped,” marks a pivotal stage in this evolution. Officially launched in November 2025, this season stands out with deep changes in gameplay, major additions in terms of maps, characters, and weapons, as well as a series of captivating events that excite the community. As the second half of this season, called Split 2, is about to begin, Battle Royale players are preparing to discover a range of new features that promise to redefine their gaming experience.
Since its debut, Apex Legends has established itself as a must-play in the genre, now with 27 Legends to choose from, five main Battle Royale maps, and 29 weapons with varied characteristics. This increasingly rich selection offers as many strategic possibilities as gaming pleasure, but it also requires constant adaptation, especially with the arrival of Season 27 and its adjustments. Split 2 thus constitutes the second wave of updates, driven by meticulous tweaks, quality-of-life improvements, and the introduction of new surprises.
The key dates for Split 2 of Season 27 have been officially announced by Respawn Entertainment, providing a clear schedule for players wanting to plan their matches and events. Whether it’s to anticipate the rank reset, discover the Legends’ reworks, or enjoy exclusive rewards, everything is now arranged so that this second half of the season is a complete success. Detailing these new features is essential to fully immerse yourself in this new phase of Apex Legends and to grasp the competitive and community stakes it raises.
- 1 Key dates for Split 2 of Season 27: planning and official schedule
- 2 Major changes in the meta: optimized legends, weapons, and gameplay
- 3 New characters and fresh content at the heart of Split 2
- 4 Revisited maps and reinvented combat spaces in Season 27
- 5 Console and PC versions: optimization of the Split 2 update for all players
- 6 The impact of Split 2 on the e-sports and competitive ecosystem
- 7 Practical tips to optimize your progression during Split 2
Key dates for Split 2 of Season 27: planning and official schedule
Split 2 of Season 27 of Apex Legends officially begins on February 18, 2026, marking the start of a new period rich in competitions and updates. This date comes exactly three months after the initial launch of the season on November 4, 2025. It is a crucial moment because each Split corresponds to a distinct phase in the competitive ranking, which will be reset to offer everyone a fair chance.
Just before the launch, an update will be deployed to incorporate numerous changes, including balancing adjustments for characters and weapons. The rank reset is one of the major events, directly affecting competitive players who will thus face new challenges with their rankings reset. This dynamic renews players’ interest, fueled by the race to higher leagues.
The important dates to remember around this Split 2 are as follows:
- Start of Split 2: February 18, 2026
- Competitive rank reset: the very day of the Split launch
- Major update: deployed at 6:00 PM UTC to minimize impact on play times
- Special seasonal events: from late February to late March 2026
- End of Season 27: scheduled for May 3, 2026
These milestones are essential for players wishing to optimize their progression and take advantage of the opportunities that Split 2 offers. Whatever your level, this period invites you to a renewed Battle Royale experience.
Major changes in the meta: optimized legends, weapons, and gameplay
With the arrival of Split 2, Respawn has focused on a thorough rebalancing that will significantly modify the meta, thus influencing in-game strategies. Several Legends have had their abilities reworked, sometimes strengthened, sometimes weakened, to ensure smoother and fairer gameplay for everyone.
Among the key adjustments, some iconic Legends like Bangalore, Pathfinder, and Loba receive targeted improvements aimed at enhancing their combat and mobility utility. For example, Bangalore’s smoke deployment is faster, increasing the ability to disorient enemies in intense exchanges. Pathfinder, meanwhile, gets a cooldown reduction on his grapple, energizing his movement and escape possibilities.
At the same time, weapon management has also undergone meticulous work to correct noticeable imbalances that appeared in the first part of the season. Developers notably reviewed the damage and accuracy of popular weapons such as the R-301 Carbine and the Peacekeeper, to restore competitive breath to medium assault rifles and shotguns respectively.
These changes also affect movement mechanics, a dimension dear to Apex Legends fans. The focus is on smoother movement, notably through adjustments to sprinting and jumping, to allow more dynamic and enjoyable gameplay phases. These modifications aim to reinforce the sense of speed and agility, which is the very essence of Apex’s Battle Royale.
Concrete example: the impact of Bangalore’s rework in ranked matches
In a series of ranked matches played by experienced players, the improvement in Bangalore’s smoke deployment radically changed the approach to confrontations. The ability to mask a rotation or cover a strategic zone for several additional seconds allowed new tactical circumventing and better coverage against enemy fire. This also favored more coordinated team strategies in mid and late game.
Summary table of main changes in Split 2
| Element | Change | Expected Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Bangalore | Faster smoke deployment | Improved coverage and defensive strategies |
| Pathfinder | Cooldown reduction on grapple | Increased mobility and better rotations |
| R-301 Carbine | Slight damage decrease at long range | Assault rifle rebalancing |
| Peacekeeper | Improved accuracy and reduced aiming time | More competitiveness in close combat |
These adjustments are the result of close dialogue with the community, who reported flaws and excessive strengths over the course of matches. They reflect Respawn’s firm commitment to maintaining balance while renewing the fun of the game.
New characters and fresh content at the heart of Split 2
One of the main expectations around Season 27 focuses on the introduction of new characters and fresh elements that enrich the Apex Legends ecosystem. Although no new hero has been officially announced for this Split 2, several deep reworks and exclusive skins renew players’ interest.
Fans can count on rare cosmetics and legendary skins that will accompany the February and March events, available through dedicated challenges. These rewards aim to encourage engagement and celebrate the competitive spirit in style. Among the new cosmetics is a professional collection inspired by the best e-sports teams, further strengthening the feeling of belonging to the competitive scene.
Moreover, Respawn has planned adjustments to some marginally played characters to give them new life. These reworks notably concern legends like Rampart, who benefits from improved turrets and better team synergy. This fine-tuned character work ensures a wider diversity of choices, a key element to nurturing a dynamic meta.
Exclusive rewards and seasonal events
During this Split 2, several seasonal events will punctuate the matches. From team competitions to daily challenges, these events will offer exclusive rewards such as:
- Unique legendary skins
- Banners and rank badges
- Themed emotes
- Discounts on certain weapons during battle passes
- Bonus gameplay experience during event periods
This event programming is designed to maintain interest and stimulate the community through innovative and varied challenges.
Revisited maps and reinvented combat spaces in Season 27
The Olympus map, classic yet always appreciated, undergoes a deep overhaul in this Split 2. New zones have been added, helping to reduce player congestion in traditionally highly frequented areas. These additions aim to improve rotations, smooth movement between strategic points, and offer more balanced and tempered fights.
These spatially composed changes also favor the development of more varied strategies. Indeed, the renewal of combat spaces makes approaches more complex and less predictable, thus increasing gameplay pleasure through the diversity of encountered situations.
Illustrated example: Impact of the new “Nebula Gardens” zone
Located in the northern part of Olympus, “Nebula Gardens” is a brand-new area combining lush vegetation and futuristic structures. This zone was designed to encourage mid-range shootings while offering several alternatives of natural cover. Since its introduction, teams have been able to experiment with unprecedented tactical approaches that profoundly change the usual combat dynamics.
This innovation in topography sheds new light on map design in the Battle Royale and could inspire similar adaptations in future seasons.
Console and PC versions: optimization of the Split 2 update for all players
The optimization of the Split 2 update also focused on the user experience both on PC and console. With a constant influx of players, Apex Legends’ technical infrastructure had to be redesigned to ensure fluidity and stability, regardless of platform.
On PC, matchmaking improvement now aims to make matches more balanced by selecting players of similar ranks and encouraging diversity in play styles. Graphics performance has also been reworked to fully exploit the latest hardware technologies without sacrificing fluidity.
On the console side, especially on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, developers worked on reducing loading times and bugs linked to the update. This ensures a smooth transition to Split 2 and allows players to enjoy the new features without interruption. Support for peripherals, including next-generation controllers, has also been improved to optimize controls and reactions in combat.
The impact of Split 2 on the e-sports and competitive ecosystem
Split 2 of Season 27 is not only an immersive update for regular players: it is also part of preparing major tournaments. With the rankings reset, competitors get the opportunity to restart on fair grounds and reshape the competition landscape.
Several official tournaments are already scheduled for early 2026, including challenger leagues and international qualifying phases. These events will benefit from the season’s balancing and allow the best teams to exploit new features in their strategies. Organizers rely on these changes to renew suspense and dynamics on the e-sports circuit.
One of the key stakes for the competitive scene is the ability of new mechanics to offer a richer and more tactical show, thus increasing appeal for viewers and sponsors. This season could therefore represent a turning point for Apex Legends’ local and global prominence.
Practical tips to optimize your progression during Split 2
To fully benefit from Split 2 in Apex Legends Season 27, adapting your strategy is essential. Here are some tips to boost your progression and performance:
- Know the reworks: familiarize yourself with the changes made to Legends to make the best use of their strengths.
- Master the new zones on Olympus: the remodeled map offers new tactical opportunities, discover and adapt your routes.
- Participate in events: these challenges are a valuable source of rewards and help accelerate rank progression.
- Optimize your loadout: test the revised weapon builds to find the most effective combination for each phase of the match.
- Play in a coordinated team: communication and synergy remain the keys to dominating Battle Royale.
These paths, combined with regular practice, can make all the difference, whether you are a novice eager to improve or a seasoned player aiming for ultimate victory.
