Apex Legends Addiction: A Guide for Parents
Apex Legends is the new game in town.
After the phenomenal success of Fortnite, video game companies wanted to get in on their share of the action. Unsurprisingly, Electronic Arts (EA) was at the forefront of this emerging market.
EA are no strangers to creating highly addictive, and financially lucrative, video games. They’re one of the largest gaming companies in the world, making over $5 billion in 2018. As a result, they have both the time and the resources to create something that keeps players hooked (and spending money).
Within two weeks of Apex Legends being released EA had already amassed 50 million players., making it one of the fastest growing games in history.
Is Apex Legends addiction something that you need to worry about?
What is Apex Legends?
Apex Legends is a Battle Royale shooter game aimed (no pun intended) towards a more mature audience than Fortnite or PUBG.
It is free-to-play (with in-game purchases) and rated 13+ in the US, and 16+ in the UK and Europe for its “sustained depictions of violence towards human characters”.
The game is played in rounds (while the game is being played you cannot pause it without the potential of losing). Teams of three players battle 57 others to be the last ones standing.
Because the game is “free-to-play”, the business model depends on players spending as much money as possible through in-game purchases.
You can spend anywhere from $10-$40 at a time, with the majority of the items costing $11. Meaning you’d need to purchase the $19.99 option to be able to afford something useful. Not only that, but the items you can obtain through gameplay become increasingly frustrating to acquire as you rise through the ranks in-game.
The systems in place make Apex Legends a lucrative sales funnel, and players with certain addictive tendencies towards gambling could end up losing a lot of money.
Warning Signs of Apex Legends Addiction
Video game addiction is officially recognized by the World Health Organization. The three biggest warning signs to look out for are:
- Impaired control: Your gamer is struggling to limit or manage their time.
- Loss of interest in other activities: Your gamer’s life revolves around gaming and they may be neglecting normal life responsibilities.
- Continuing to play despite negative impact: Are their grades dropping? Are they struggling to gain or maintain employment? Is gaming having an impact on their relationships?
These are the three biggest warning signs for Apex Legends addiction, and there are others as well. To find out the severity of your problem, take our quiz:
Video Game Addiction Quiz for Parents.
Practical Tips and Strategies
As a parent, you need to control the problem now before it gets worse. Here are a few practical steps you want to take now:
First, you need to begin reducing gaming. Your target is to two hours or less a day, and ideally, not every day. One strategy is to use “game-free” days as a way to earn “game days.” Many parents of adolescents have found it helpful to have no gaming Monday to Thursday and then limited gaming on the weekends.
Next, you want to balance out gaming with multiple activities. Your target here is to keep gaming from being their single focus and only outlet to de-stress, socialize, and feel a sense of achievement. Integrate activities like exercise (sports), time in nature where possible, and in-person face-to-face interactions.
Finally, you want to rebuild the family structure. Have dinners together as a family (without technology), and schedule activities together on the weekends. Whether your gamer is an “addict” or not, stop calling them one! It only creates more conflict and hurts rapport.
Follow these three strategies and you will be able to start turning your son’s Apex Legends addiction around. For a full guide on how to help your loved one overcome their video game addiction, purchase a copy of Reclaim.