How community pressure forced EA to reverse ALGS travel policy and what it means for esports
The Controversial ALGS Travel Announcement
Electronic Arts faced immediate backlash after revealing their travel funding strategy for the Apex Legends Global Series Split 2 Playoffs in Stockholm.
The gaming community united in protest when EA’s initial travel expense plan left many qualifying teams without financial support for the upcoming international tournament.
Stockholm prepared to host Apex Legends Global Series Split 2 Playoffs, welcoming 40 elite squads from across the globe for one of the first major LAN competitions following pandemic restrictions.
Competitors from North America, South America, EMEA, APAC North, and APAC South battled through extensive qualification rounds for a shot at the million-dollar prize pool. However, the celebration of qualification quickly turned to concern when travel support discrepancies emerged.
According to Liquipedia editor ApexFlatline, Electronic Arts originally intended to finance flight and accommodation expenses for merely 19 squads.
Immediate frustration spread as the remaining 21 teams discovered they needed to secure their own funding for the Stockholm journey.
“Electronic Arts will finance expenses exclusively for the top five squads in APAC North, EMEA, and NA plus the leading two teams in APAC South and SA,” ApexFlatline disclosed in a March 30 Reddit publication.
Considering the substantial costs involved with international travel from diverse regions, many established esports organizations reportedly declined to cover their competitors’ expenses.
Community Response and Support
Rapidly, numerous elite Apex Legends professionals and content creators voiced their solidarity. Some demanded EA address the situation directly, while others contributed personal funds to assist struggling competitors.
Every competitor merits the opportunity to participate. This transcends being merely a video game. pic.twitter.com/Nv0sJaIlGM
— NiceWigg (@NiceWigg) March 30, 2022
“Every competitor merits the opportunity to participate. This transcends being merely a video game,” declared 100 Thieves superstar NiceWigg via Twitter after contributing $3,000 to SCRY, an organization-free squad that placed within North America’s top ten during Split 2.
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NRG also intervened, announcing they would finance hotel and transportation costs to guarantee the highest-caliber teams could attend the LAN event.
i lack vocabulary to express this… you are transforming dreams into reality. thank you ❤️❤️❤️
— Pistillo (@PistilloMx) March 30, 2022
“It’s profoundly disheartening witnessing a billion-dollar corporation failing to support competitors appropriately,” Twitch broadcaster NICKMERCS commented. “Let’s establish travel stipends for professionals!”
EA’s Policy Reversal and Future Implications
Within hours of these social media posts gaining widespread attention, Electronic Arts acknowledged the issue and delivered a comprehensive statement on Twitter.
“We have received and considered your input concerning travel arrangements,” the official Apex Esports account stated.
“Consequently, we have determined to finance travel expenditures for all starting competitors attending live tournaments throughout the remainder of Year 2.”
We have received and considered your input concerning travel. Consequently, we have determined to cover travel expenditures for all starting competitors attending live tournaments throughout the remainder of Year 2.
Anticipate seeing everyone in Stockholm!
— Apex Legends Esports (@PlayApexEsports) March 31, 2022
This policy adjustment not only guarantees all 40 squads will receive support for the approaching ALGS Split 2 Playoffs in Sweden but also eliminates concerns about funding availability for subsequent tournaments.
All remaining Apex competitive events through 2022 will now include travel cost coverage for participating athletes, irrespective of their geographic origin.
This incident establishes a crucial precedent for community influence in esports governance. The rapid reversal demonstrates how collective action can reshape corporate policies, ensuring fair competition regardless of organizational backing or regional economic disparities.
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