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While the most recent season updates for Apex Legends have seen some exciting additions, there are instances when it's time for some change. For Season 27, titled Amped, Respawn Entertainment is taking a sledgehammer to the old Olympus map and updating it for an exciting new meta. Of course, that's not all that players can expect to see. The Olympus map originally debuted way back during Season 7 when Apex Legends was navigating the seas of the COVID-19 pandemic along with the rest of the world. It was originally built with the excitement of a sky high map in mind, but five years after its arrival, Respawn is ready to add some fresh excitement to its design. For those who haven't followed the Apex Legends lore, chaos struck Olympus after it collided with the Stasis Net on Broken Moon and disappeared back in Season 20. The city was eventually found buried in the snowy tundra of Pagos and restored to workable condition. Using gravitational technology, Olympus is flying high again, even as concerns float around regarding the city's ultimate viability. Expect to find four new points of interest (POIs) across the map. Somers University was built by Horizon and acts as a replacement for the old Orbital Cannon. With Orbital Cannon proving less fun for the early and late games, the new Somers University offers a more approachable exterior, additional cover locations, and a triangular layout. The Gravity Engine will replace the old Energy Depot and is the source of what keeps Olympus afloat. It features numerous lifts and zip rails for increased verticality. The Stabilizer is replacing the former Docks and keeps Olympus aligned, but its platform can lead to some harrowing encounters. Finally, the Dockyhard is located near the Hydroponics and features some of the ideas from the old Olympus map while adding new vertical elements for different sorts of team fights. Other key changes coming to Amped involve reworks for some of the game's Legend characters. With so much focus on Olympus, it's only appropriate that Horizon receive a handful of new buffs. While Respawn has acknowledged that nerfs were on the table, that felt less fun, so the team has instead given her some new movement tools. As players earn upgrades across each session, they'll find options that give Horizon more of an advantage during vertical battles. This is in addition to a shorter cooldown on her Gravity Lift Tactical and extra health for her Black Hole Ultimate. Valkyrie is also an expert at aerial combat. She was once the master, but Respawn acknowledges that the field has caught up with her, so some changes have become necessary. Her VTOL Jets and Skyward Dive Ultimate have been given increased speed boosts and shorter takeoff time, respectively. Meanwhilue, her Missile Swarm Tactical has been amplified to now scan enemies on contact while also losing the self-damage drawback. New upgrades can now affect her missile patterns, fuel consumption, and further reduce the takeoff time on Skyward Dive. Finally, Rampart's walls have been given some extra durability. Her Amped Cover Tactical has been improved to give her walls greater health, speed boosts, and a roof as players level up over the course of a session. New upgrades will also play into Rampart's walls, offering benefits like regenerating health and infinite ammo when behind Amped Cover. While this would indicate that Rampart will be more of a defensive option going forward, Respawn believes that these benefits will actually keep her moving more so that they can be shared with the rest of her squad. Changes are also coming to some of Apex Legends' weaponry. The biggest change involves the Alternator, which will see the addition of Double Tap Hop Up. This allows players to fire both of the Alternator's barrels simultaneously for greater damage. In fact, it can straight-up kill at close range. As for movement options, an improved Mantle Boost will amplify a player's momentum and allow them to traverse across the map faster. A new indicator will make it much easier to execute this move by offering visual cues. The last thing to note is that Olympus isn't just coming to the core Apex Legends Battle Royale. The new Wildcard mode introduced last season is about to see Olympus for the first time. The Wildcard version will have extra ziplines, gravity cannons, and other additions to keep sessions moving faster. Olympus will come to Wildcard as part of the Supersonic Event, which will run from November 18 to December 16. Olympus is ready to fly again in Apex Legends: Amped. Look for Season 27 to begin on Tuesday, November 4. For more on Amped, check out the Apex Legends website. This preview is based on a developer briefing held via Discord.
