Apex Legends Future Icons release date and patch notes for new update

Apex Legends is getting a new update on PS5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and PC. The Apex Legends mid-season update introduces the Future Icons event, which has a June 24 release date and runs until July 15.

As part of the update, Apex Legends developer Respawn will add a brand new game mode, as Arenas: Duels joins the line-up. The new mode pits one player against another player, but without any special abilities or healing.

"Test your mettle in a new limited-time Arenas variant: Duels," reads the official description.

"Chain 1v1 duels throughout a 5-minute match on a server of 30 players while a leaderboard tracks your performance.

"Each Legend, loadout, and spawn location are randomised, but both you and your opponent will be mirrored-pushing you to make the best of each moment on even ground. And with abilities turned off until July 15, it's all about core gun skills and movement."

Needless to say, fans can also unlock a variety of rewards as part of the Future Icons event, including Legendary skins for Rampart, Octane, and the Peacekeeper.

That's on top of a big new update, which makes various balance changes and bug fixes, which you can read about below.

Apex Legends Future Icons update patch notes...

BUG FIXES

• Audio: walking while holding a Bocek will once again produce third-person footstep audio

• Arrows

- Should once again despawn properly

- Those shots into the Arena's barrier wall will no longer stay there once the round starts

• Arsenals: will no longer steal ammo out of your inventory

• Firing Range

- Artemis should no longer spam spawn meow

- Arrows can no longer be picked-up across Firing Range instances

• PC: Full shader compiles should no longer occur every time the game loads, especially after a Windows update

• Tac no longer occasionally used with some Legends when holding Akimbo weapons while activating Ult

• "Tracked and Recommended" tab once again shows tracked challenges in match summary

• Tracked challenges lobby widget now shows the further progressed challenge of the two

LEGENDS

• Alter

- Fixed issue where any legend would cancel the void nexus activation if you tried to travel to it while holding an ultimate in your hands.

- Fixed issue where Lifeline would cancel the void nexus activation if she did a hard fall impact.

- Fixed enemy and dummy highlighting in the void and from Alter's tactical not working when friendly fire was enabled in the firing range.

- Fixed issue where Alter's teammate would not get an MRB when crafting banners if Alter had selected the "Friends" upgrade, but was dead.

• Ash: Greedy Snare now plants correctly after the first hit

• Mirage: will now consistently exit cloak when hit while healing

• Sparrow: Stinger Bolt no longer instantly break Revenant's Shadow Shroud

QUALITY OF LIFE

• Arsenals: increased the interact size of the consoles, making it less likely that you unintentionally grab a new weapon while enhancing your current weapon

• Battle Pass gifting has returned

• Fixed misprediction hitches when taking ring damage or when ending heals

• Gibraltar's arm shield and Gun Shield Generators are now accounted for in the Death Recap

• Rampart can now interact with more things while holding Sheila

• Re-wrote the 'hold to use' system to make it more accurate and players should swap weapons on accident less often as a result

• Thermite Grenade Visual Updates

- Added detonation FX

- Added new elements to update visuals: updated spark materials, hotter bottom to see better the thermite AOE, all assets dissolve faster

- Reduced number of particles

- Reduction in overdraw

- Updated sparks to enhance the feel

AUDIO

• De-prioritised friendly zip-lines so enemies will always be played

• De-prioritised non-threatening enemy footsteps (bodyfall and downed) to ensure potential threats are always played

• Experimenting with lowered volume/inaudible friendly footsteps when under significant threat-let us know if this is helpful!

• Reduced volume of Hovertanks in Kings Canyon