“EA Sparks Outrage: Apex Legends Pros Furious Over ALGS Hotel Funding Cut!”
The competitive Apex Legends scene is up in arms after Electronic Arts (EA) announced that while it will cover travel expenses for this year’s ALGS Open, players must now fund their own hotel stays. The decision, meant to ensure an ‘equitable’ tournament, has sparked backlash from both professional players and the wider community.
EA’s New Policy: Flights Covered, Hotels Not
For years, EA covered both airfare and accommodations for participating teams, providing two shared rooms per squad. However, with the tournament expanding to include over 160 teams, the publisher is cutting back on hospitality expenses. Instead, it will focus solely on airfare, ensuring players can make it to the competition regardless of their location.
In a statement to esports.gg, an EA spokesperson defended the move: “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.”
To ease the transition, EA has promised to assist players with booking accommodations by providing discount codes, notifying hotels, and releasing a travel guide with visa requirements.
Pro Players React: Fair Trade-Off or Unacceptable Cut?
The decision has divided the Apex Legends esports community. While some see it as a necessary sacrifice for a bigger tournament, others criticize it as an unfair, last-minute change.
Swedish pro John ‘Hakis’ Håkansson (Alliance) expressed frustration, arguing that EA could have easily covered accommodation costs through in-game skin bundles or merchandise. “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,” he tweeted.
Danish player Casper ‘Gnaske’ Præstensgaard (Ninjas in Pyjamas) echoed this sentiment, calling for the introduction of pro skin bundles to fund the event, labeling it a “revolutionary” move for the esport.
Others, like TSM’s Phillip ‘ImperialHal’ Dosen, took a more pragmatic approach, pointing out that players have had months to prepare financially. “3/4 months to make money for the trip—for all these people, this is a dream come true for them. They just expect handouts because that’s what was given before this entire time,” he noted.
Meanwhile, Australian pro Ben ‘Wxltzy’ Walton (Falcons) had a blunt response for those unhappy with the policy change: “Those complaining need to just not compete [in my opinion]. If you think you won’t earn more than what [accommodation] costs, then why are you going?”
What’s Next for ALGS and Apex Esports?
Despite the controversy, the Apex Legends Global Series is shaping up to be the biggest one yet. Since its inception in 2021, the ALGS has grown exponentially, and the 2025 event is expected to nearly double in size compared to last year.
However, EA’s decision to shift financial responsibility onto players could have long-term consequences. Will teams and organizations step in to help fund accommodations? Could a crowdfunding model—such as pro skin bundles—be the future of esports sustainability?
For now, the Apex Legends esports scene remains divided. But one thing is certain: when the ALGS Open kicks off, all eyes will be on how this decision impacts the competition and the players themselves.
