Dark Depths: Apex Legends' Most Shameless Event, Still Haunting 2026

Another year, another Apex Legends event. By 2026, players have seen so many limited-time modes, collection events, and town takeovers that they can practically smell the microtransactions before the patch notes drop. Some events are genuinely exciting. Others are recycled. Then there is Dark Depths, a 2022 event that remains the gold standard for how not to do a live-service celebration. It was not technically a Collection Event, but it still managed to feel like a shopping cart with a battle royale attached. Years later, it is still the event that Apex fans bring up when they want to explain why trust is a currency Respawn keeps overdrafting.

The Good Old Days, When Events Actually Did Something

Apex Legends events can be hit and miss. Sometimes there are exciting Town Takeovers and map-changing updates. Sometimes there are recycled LTMs like Shadow Royale, which get a little dull after the fifth skeleton. And then there was War Games, which was grand in scope but had half its Limited Time Modes canceled due to technical issues. The Killing Time LTM was supposedly saved for another time, and that time still has not arrived. Players cannot expect every event to cater to their tastes, but they can expect an event to have a point.

Town Takeover events are the good stuff. They permanently change the maps of Apex Legends, adding huge survey buildings, a power plant filled with toxic waste, or trampoline parks. The Old Ways event was a particular favorite for many Bloodhound mains, as it delved into the technological tracker's lore while also providing new gameplay experiences. Town Takeovers are exciting and offer permanent changes to the game, something which otherwise only tends to happen with new seasons.

As time has gone on, Collection Events have become more common as well. These revolve around collecting, which usually means buying, themed cosmetic items for Legends and weapons. However, in addition to the shopping, there is usually another aspect to the event. Season 10's Evolution event was a high point, adding Rampart's Town Takeover, Big Maude, as well as giving her a major buff and an heirloom. There was also a prize tracker with nice rewards, including two legendary skins, six trackers, and a robot kangaroo weapon charm. Even Season 11's Raiders Collection Event had two free legendary skins, despite not having a lot else going for it.

Dark Depths: The Event That Asked for Money and Gave Back a Holo-Spray

And then there is Dark Depths. It is not technically a Collection Event, but there is not really anything else to do other than buy a load of skins. Skins which, for the most part, are not even particularly exciting. Fuse's best Kurt Russell impression is nice, it must be admitted, but no skin should be forgiven for removing his moustache, even if it replaces it with a great big bushy beard.

There is a prize tracker like events previous, and players level it up by completing challenges. But the Dark Depths tracker is awful. In the first week of the event, players get some Battle Pass stars, not even two levels' worth, 25 crafting materials, a loading screen, two Apex Packs, and a holo-spray. No Legend or weapon skins. Not even a character-themed tracker for old Fusey boy, though that is available to buy for hard cash. There is one Dark Depths Pack available in week two of the event, which guarantees a cosmetic item from the event. What are the odds it is a weapon charm or banner frame? The third week of Dark Depths, yes, it goes on for three weeks, is when some skins finally appear, as two epics hit the rewards.

Week	Rewards	Excitement Level
Week 1	Battle Pass stars, 25 crafting materials, loading screen, two Apex Packs, holo-spray	😐
Week 2	One Dark Depths Pack that guarantees an event cosmetic	🤔
Week 3	Two epic skins	🥱

Not every event needs a host of new Legendary skins or whatever, but Dark Depths falls particularly flat in the rewards department. At least there are gameplay changes or an LTM to make up for it, right? Wait, there are not. Well, what is the point then?

The Missing Gameplay and the Missed Opportunity

Maybe the new Arenas map is being overlooked. It is fine, but hardly exciting. This event just seems like an excuse to add a bunch more microtransactions to the game. Apex Legends treads a fine line on microtransactions at the best of times, but Dark Depths is almost shameless in its attempts to sell mediocre skins. It is incredibly disappointing. Just imagine what Fuse's fishy Town Takeover could have looked like, or a Bangalore takeover of her crashed spaceship from the recent lore trailer. That could have helped bring lore and gameplay together in a way that has not been achieved since Loba entered the Games.

Dark Depths does not just feel like a missed opportunity. It feels like an attempt to see just how much the Apex Legends community is willing to pay and a way to judge what the lowest standards are for an event. It is rare for even the most critical fans to be this scathing about Apex. It is a game many love and play a lot, and most decisions have at least had good ideas behind them, even if they have been poorly implemented or not thought through. This event, however, is quite frankly terrible.

Why Dark Depths Still Matters in 2026

In 2026, Apex Legends has continued to evolve, with new seasons, new Legends, and new experiments in live-service storytelling. Some events have learned from the past. Others have repeated the same mistakes with shinier storefronts. Dark Depths remains a useful warning label. It shows what happens when an event is built around a prize tracker that feels like a leftover receipt, a shop that asks for premium currency, and no meaningful gameplay hook. Players remember. They remember the missing LTM. They remember the cash-only Fuse tracker. They remember the three-week stretch of logging in, completing chores, and receiving a holo-spray.

The lesson is simple, even if Respawn has not always followed it: an event should give players a reason to play, not just a reason to pay. Town Takeovers, LTMs, lore beats, and free rewards can all help. Dark Depths had almost none of that. It was not just the worst Apex Legends event yet. It was a masterclass in how to make a community feel like a wallet with a jump kit. And if that sounds harsh, well, the holo-spray was not going to soften the blow.

Meanwhile, the game's end-of-year stats continue to confirm that everyone's teammates are bad. At least Dark Depths gave players something to agree on. 😅