Apex Legends won’t censor game for Saudi Arabia esports tournament, Respawn says

Apex Legends developer Respawn has told fans it will not change the game to block certain characters and cosmetics from being played during the Esports World Cup in Saudi Arabia this summer, despite concerns over how the country might censor the battle royale’s diverse character roster.

Earlier this month, the Esports World Cup social media feed announced that Apex Legends had “[entered] the arena”, stating only the “best will compete for fame, fortune, and glory” at the Riyadh-based tournament.

This revelation was immediately met with ire from the Apex Legends community. Fans pointed to the contradiction of a country notorious for its poor LGBTQ+ rights hosting a tournament featuring Respawn’s inclusive battle royale, which includes many playable LGBTQ+ characters, as well as Pride cosmetics.

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