Apex legends season 23 Rift

Balancing Art, Games, and the "Professional" Persona

I’ve always felt a bit odd talking about my non-artistic hobbies, especially when the “professional” image (whatever that even means) is so emphasised. I’m an artist; I paint, I create, but does that mean I need to be a predictable, perfectly polished professional? Maybe not. After all, this is my website, my blog—and here, I’d like to share a bit about another big part of my downtime: gaming.

Right now, Apex Legends is my go-to. I don’t have the time to dive into multiple games these days, but I love squeezing in a quick hour or two of Apex when I need a break. It’s like a fast dopamine hit, my equivalent of watching a quick film, and it keeps me sharp without sucking up hours of my life (I’ve got too much art to make for that!).

You might even catch me in the Apex Legends fandom on YouTube from time to time. I don’t bother using a separate account; both are my name, just with “art” attached to one. And for anyone unfamiliar, Apex is a battle royale shooter, currently in its 23rd season. The new season launched recently, and we’ve got about 92 days until the next big update, so it’ll run until after Christmas.

Changes in Apex: Can They Keep It Fresh?

I sometimes wonder, how much can they keep changing Apex without losing what made it great? The thrill of armour swaps, the satisfaction of the Wingman, and all the familiar weapons and scopes—it’s part of the game’s identity. They’ve already made changes to accessibility, like respawning with basic weapons, which definitely changes the feel a bit. But as for me, I’m still grinding to improve. My kill/death ratio (K/D) is around 0.5, so there's a lot of room for growth. For context, my K/D in Call of Duty is a solid 5. Apex is different, though; it offers genuine room for strategy and improvement. Learning when to take cover, healing at the right moments—small adjustments make a big difference.

Art in Gaming: The Creative World of Apex

As an artist, one of the things that fascinates me most is the visual creativity behind Apex. The skins, character designs, and map aesthetics are constantly evolving. While some skins are straightforward recolours, others feel like real works of fashion and design. There’s always a “platinum” or “prestige” look to chase, and it must be challenging for their art team to keep things fresh and exciting every three months.

What must it be like to work in a studio where you’re on a clock for each season? Bigger, better—always. And on top of that, they’re balancing gameplay which will have its own meetings, and challenges, so each update feels challenging yet fair.

Character Changes: Love Them or Leave Them?

The character “reworks” are a hot topic. This season, support legends like Lifeline got a major overhaul. I miss her classic care package. Now, it’s more like a weaker version of Gibraltar’s dome, and while it’s bulletproof, enemies can still enter, which makes quick healing tricky and left venerable. The hovering drone is a clever addition, but honestly, I wish they’d let players toggle between classic and updated versions of legends. After all, we get attached to these characters and their abilities—it’s a shame when a favourite version is only available in special event modes, such as relaunch.

Personally, I’m a Fuse and Caustic main. I’d love to see an update to Fuse’s Motherload; maybe a select fire option that lets you choose different patterns? Positioned just right, it’s already powerful, but there’s always room for revisions.

Time, Art, and Gaming: Finding the Balance

Ranked is a grind, and it could easily eat up hours. But as an artist, I can’t help but think about how I spend my time. Gaming might seem indulgent, but it’s downtime, and that’s essential. Humans aren’t wired to be “on” 24/7. For me, Apex is like a mental reset. Whether it’s films, games, or another form of entertainment, we all need to disconnect sometimes, of course it is also why I paint, which is a different form of disconnect and being present.

Plus, it’s cool that games today create small, unexpected connections. I’m usually a bit shy and rarely unmute, but I’ve had some fun conversations with players from all over, even practising my Spanish. I should get back to that! Was rather limited as had only just started, why I know those words! Was a great moment!

Where Can Apex Go From Here?

It’s fun to speculate on where Apex might go next. Last season was packed with updates, from the new map changes (E-District) to dual-wielding the P2020 and Mozambique. What else could we see? Another new weapon, perhaps—there’s talk of a Titanfall-inspired gun on the way.

And let’s briefly touch on the age-old topic of gaming and violence. For me, gaming is about competition, reflexes, and strategy, nothing more. The idea that video games create violence feels oversimplified. If someone is inclined to act violently, that tendency often goes deeper than the games they play. For most people, games provide a harmless outlet or, in my case, just good old-fashioned tea sport fun.

Closing Thoughts: Art, Games, and Building Connections

At the end of the day, what I love most about gaming—and art, really—is the connections it creates, and downtime while being engaged and interactive. Whether it's through an intense match in Apex or sharing a piece of artwork, it's about the shared experiences and inspiration that bring people together. I’d love to hear what you'd like to see next in Apex, what inspires you, or if any of you collect art from the games you love.

If you're curious about my artwork or just want to chat about anything creative (Apex included!), feel free to take a look around my site or reach out, drop a comment on this blog post. I’m always open to connecting with fellow creators, gamers, and anyone who finds joy in these worlds. After all, this blog and my art are just my small way of putting something positive out there. Thanks for being here—hope to see you in the YouTube , or blog comments or wherever our paths might cross!

Another Artist Scott Christian Sava is an overwatch player, they may have only shared one post or two, but I know I was excited to discover this from an artist whose YouTube shorts I had followed for a while (Makes shorts really worth while, amazing how much info packs in!) Scott’s YouTube is here