Written by Dante Uzel on 05 March 2025 01:39
Electronic Arts has announced that it will cover the travel costs for Apex Legends esports players attending this year’s ALGS Open, but players will now be responsible for funding their own hotel accommodations.
This decision has sparked significant backlash from both pro players and the community, though EA maintains that this approach will make the event more "equitable." The 2025 ALGS is expected to be the largest yet, with over 160 teams competing at the highest level of Apex Legends esports.
In previous years, EA covered both travel and hotel expenses for teams, providing two shared rooms for three players and a coach. However, with the increased scale of the event this year, the publisher has opted to drop hotel accommodations and focus solely on ensuring players can travel to the event, regardless of their location.
EA spokesperson explained: “By covering airfare for all qualified teams, we’re providing a level playing field for players to compete, no matter where in the world they come from or how expensive their travel would be. Airfare typically has fewer options available, whereas there are a variety of accommodation options players can leverage depending on their budget.”
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EA also shared plans to support players in booking accommodations, including notifying local hotels, offering discount codes, and providing a travel guide with visa information.
The decision has drawn mixed reactions from Apex Legends esports professionals. While some view the change as a necessary adjustment for a larger tournament, others have criticized the sudden shift.
On X, Jake Lucky highlighted reactions from several pros. John ‘Hakis‘ Håkansson, a Swedish player for Alliance, suggested, “It’s 2025 and this could have so easily been solved by just doing a designated skin bundle or merchandise for the Open LAN, which would have crowdfunded all the travel, accommodation and then some for the 160 team open LAN.”
Tags: Apex Legends
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