5 min read · Oct 22, 2022
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Video games can be addicting but just how addicting are they? By taking a closer look at APEX Legends we will see the tactics video games employ to keep gamers hooked, and addicted to their platforms.
What is ‘APEX Legends’?
Upon its release in 2019, APEX Legends took the gaming world by storm. This online multiplayer online battle royale style game had several enticing features. A wide variety of ‘Legends’ with different abilities, gave players different ways to interact with the game. Moreover, the game appealed to a wide audience of members as many of the playable ‘Legends’ were diverse in character with representation for minorities and the LGBTQ+ communities.
The APEX Reward System
APEX Legends through the use of an ‘in-game’ reward system is able to create an addicting environment for gamers. The reward system structure is built such that players will continue to play, so that they may ‘level up’ and earn ‘APEX packs’ or in-game currency. These ‘APEX packs’ often contain character customization options, and each customization has a designated tier. There are four tiers for these rewards: Legendary, Epic, Rare, and Common. Furthermore, the in-game currency earned can be spent on exclusive rewards in the in-game store, incentivizing players to continue playing so that they may better customize their playing experience. Now that we have an understanding of what APEX Legends is, let’s analyze the ways in which APEX employs the reward system in creating an addictive environment that can be hard to break away from.
Why is ‘APEX Legends’ addicting?
APEX Legends challenges players to improve their level by gaining ‘experience’ in battles with others. Players are awarded points based on wins and losses, and are then given one of the aforementioned awards, releasing dopamine and thus starting the process for addiction. This is further evidenced by the fact that “stimulation of the medial forebrain motivates us to do things again and again” (Boyle 2022). The interaction with the game in this way releases dopamine in a players brain, or when they are awarded an ‘APEX pack’. If this action or association is repeated enough, an addiction can be formed.
“The reward center in the brain releases dopamine in response to a pleasurable experience or hyperarousal. If a person experiences hyperarousal while playing video games, the brain associates the activity with dopamine. The person develops a strong drive to seek out that same pleasure again and again.” (Luker, Mayo Health Clinic)
APEX Legends employs a strategy with their in-game reward system that engages and forces players to repeatedly interact with it. The repetitive nature of this activity may be the source of the addiction, and the reason why players seemingly are unable to break out of the hold that this addiction may have on them. Repetitive behavior specifically as it relates to dopamine, begins with the dopaminergic system. In this process the ventral tegmental area (VTA) produces neurons that contain dopamine and projects them on to the temporal lobe and prefrontal cortex, and as a result when players experience something good or pleasurable they will associate it as a reward (Boyle 2022). So, when APEX players are engaging with the game they are actually activating the dopamine system in their brain via the experiences they are having in the game. Meaning that the more times a player interacts with the game, the more likely they are to develop an addiction. This is further evidenced in an article by the Mayo Health Clinic from June 2022 in which they found that, “the more times people experience the behavior, the more dopamine is released, and the more driven they are to return to the behavior.” It seems that through an exciting gameplay format and repeated interactions with an effective reward-system that APEX Legends has created an almost inescapable addiction.
The Problem with an APEX Addiction and How to Avoid it
As it relates to personal health, addictions can be seriously debilitating or life altering. While some may not believe it possible to become addicted to one singular game, gaming addiction is real and it falls under the category of behavioral addiction. Behavioral addictions can often “have effects on both the physical and psychological aspects of an individual” (BBC). Some physical health problems that may occur from having a gaming addiction can be “obesity, insomnia, eye strain, or back issues” (Mayo Health Clinic). As it relates to the psychological, an addiction to video games can also negatively impact social relationships (i.e. family and friends) as well as lead to depression or anxiety, which can manifest in one’s inability to do schoolwork or work efficiently (American Addiction Center). Once we are able to understand the negative impact that gaming addictions have on our lives, we can work to address the issue at hand. Nobody wants to give up something that they love, and asking gamers to give up gaming isn’t the goal of this article. Instead, focusing on measures that individuals can take to prevent becoming addicted is what I will highlight next.
No Quick Fix But Some Helpful Tips
While there is no quick fix or one size fits all solution to addiction, there are methods that gamers can employ that may help them prevent an addiction from developing. Two recommendations given by the Mayo Health Clinic and the American Addiction Center are:
- Set time limits for gaming
- Incorporate exercise into your day
By setting time limits for gaming individuals limit their exposure to the rewards systems and dopamine releases found in the game. Additionally, by incorporating exercise an individual is slowly going to build new positive dopamine reactions to their exercise, taking the place of former addictions. For gamers, exercise helps them to avoid obesity, and proper stretching will allow them to avoid back and neck problems. If we are able to take these steps then we can help prevent addictions, and their negative effects, from developing while still being able to enjoy our favorite games, like APEX Legends.
The APEX Addiction
At the core of this free-to-play game lies a reward system waiting to prey on its players. Enticing players with low probability odds of getting ‘Legendary’ rewards, and rewarding players with in-game currency for games played, fosters a breeding ground for addictive behavior. The repetitive nature of this game, and the repetitive interactions with its rewards system make APEX Legends both an exciting game for players to enjoy, but also a dangerous game that can lead to serious health issues. APEX Legends is structured in such a way that makes it seem as if the creators are intentionally preying on a lack of understanding of behavioral addictions. However, it is clear that gaming addictions are real, and many games mirror the structures that APEX Legends has helped create a future blueprint for. As the gaming industry shifts, many shooting games have begun to adopt similar features from the APEX Legends reward system. If we continue to see this trend rise, then it is very likely that we will have an ever-increasing apex video gaming addiction on our hands.
Works Cited
Boyle, Mary. “Dopamine” Lecture Slides, Accessed October 2022
Griffiths, Mark. “Why anything can be addictive.” BBC, 25 November 2011, https://www.bbc.com/news/health-15723834. Accessed 22 October 2022.
Luker, Edward. “Video games and screen addiction.” Mayo Clinic Health System, 1 July 2022, https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/are-video-games-and-screens-another-addiction. Accessed 22 October 2022.
Watkins, Meredith. “Video Game Addiction Symptoms and Treatment.” American Addiction Centers, 7 September 2022, https://americanaddictioncenters.org/video-gaming-addiction#gaming-addiction. Accessed 22 October 2022.
