A data miner has uncovered evidence in Apex Legends that could indicate a new deathmatch mode for the game as well as a bow and arrow weapon. Both of these additions would be drastic changeups to the average round of Respawn Entertainment's battle royale. While the game is centered around squad gameplay, its massive multiplayer sessions are a staple of the genre that's only just recently been pushed back against in alternate modes in Fortnite. Of course, Respawn has plenty of experience with deathmatch thanks to the Titanfall series, so players looking for something different in Apex will likely be in good hands.
As for the bow and arrow weapon, that's a little more understandable in modern shooters. Hero shooters (a genre that Apex Legends borrows inspiration from heavily) generally have a character with something resembling a bow and arrow; examples include Hanzo in Overwatch and Sha Lin in Paladins. Even more standard FPS fair has toyed with the ancient weapon as a tool of destruction, with Call of Duty: Black Ops introducing an explosive compound bow in recent entries. While it will almost always be a specialist weapon in a game with tons of guns, it will be interesting to see how Respawn implements it.
Of course, this is all assuming that the data mined out of the latest Apex Legends update is right on the money. Self-proclaimed Apex Legends skin prophet @shrugtal posted his findings after Apex reintroduced King's Canyon in a recent update, pointing out sectors of the map that have spawn points for a three on three game type. There are still suggestions of airdrops, medical supplies, and a ring constricting the action, so the mode could be a hybrid between what players are used to with straight-up deathmatch and battle royale mechanics.
Also found in the game files is an ammo type for "arrows", which seems to confirm some sort of bow weapon being added to the game. In fact, @shrugtal already spotted a tiny compound bow in concept art for the game in August of last year, and today's discoveries seem to back up that rumor. The bow would be one of the more unusual weapons to join the Apex Legends arsenal, which has so far leaned more heavily on the types of weapons that players would remember from Titanfall along with a few new additions. Only time will tell what technological advancements can make a bow fit in alongside flaming throwing stars and a smart pistol.
Adding deathmatch to Apex Legends may be one of the smartest things that Respawn Entertainment could do if it intends to continue to work on this game for the foreseeable future. The battle royale genre is still massively popular, but it's not the end all be all it was when Respawn arrived on the scene, and it's inevitable that some other trend will capture the imagination of the FPS public. Deathmatch has proven to be the standard by which all multiplayer offerings are judged, and Respawn are already great at making that style of game. Adding it to a game with near-perfect movement and a deadly arsenal could ensure that Apex has a future no matter where the wind blows in the future.
Source: shrugtal/Twitter