Apex Legends Devs On Season 22's New Map, Dual-Wielding Pistols, And Controversial New Battle Pass

Apex Legends Season 22: Shockwave is introducing loads of gameplay changes and new additions to Respawn's iconic battle royale. From a new battle pass (well, two new battle passes, technically) to a new map--and even a new way to wield everyone's least-favorite weapons--the upcoming season will have plenty of content to keep players entertained. But behind every new feature added to the game is a story, so GameSpot spoke to Respawn's Apex Legends development team to learn more about Shockwave's creation.

Speaking to world director Ed Agostini, lead weapons designer Eric Canavese, design director and director of player investment Chris "C4" Cleroux, game designer John Larson, associate design director Josh Mohan, and senior design director Evan Nikolich, GameSpot got a behind-the-scenes look at some of the biggest game-changers set to hit Apex when Season 22: Shockwave goes live on Tuesday, August 6.

One of the most shocking features unveiled in the Shockwave's gameplay trailer was the new "akimbo" pistol mechanic, which allows players to dual-wield a pair of P2020s or a pair of Mozambiques. These two weapons are easily some of the weakest in the game, and players usually abandon them in favor of a stronger weapon as soon as they find one. GameSpot was eager to hear the story behind the akimbo pistols, and was surprised to learn that the dual-wielding feature was originally used in the testing process for a new (currently unreleased) weapon.

Apex Legends Devs On Season 22's New Map, Dual-Wielding Pistols, And Controversial New Battle Pass

Apex Legends Devs On Season 22's New Map, Dual-Wielding Pistols, And Controversial New Battle Pass

Apex Legends Devs On Season 22's New Map, Dual-Wielding Pistols, And Controversial New Battle Pass

Apex Legends Devs On Season 22's New Map, Dual-Wielding Pistols, And Controversial New Battle Pass

Apex Legends Devs On Season 22's New Map, Dual-Wielding Pistols, And Controversial New Battle Pass