It's less a timing thing and more the way both games are built. Yeah, Fortnite had the privilege of no competition, but I think it also had more novelty in its mechanics that people were satisfied for those 4 months. The building mechanics and strategies evolved a lot in those 4 months.
The skill ceiling in Apex is far lower.
Fortnite's map is bigger and constantly evolves. It's their biggest way they hype the game ever season. Very unlikely we see this with Apex.
Then there's the TPP compared to FPP. Third person allows a lot more freedom in creating items. You arent limited to FPP in a TPP game and can add all kinds of more interesting things. Then there's the entire item system-- we wont ever see loot items as creative since most ideas are tied to abilities.
New characters are hard to create when you need 3 abilities for each one (which I think was a mistake that forces the design into a corner), especially when you need an ult that isn't too powerful, which people dont like in BR games.
I also feel as if 1 mode limits the game, whereas people enjoy the traditional variety of solos, doubles, and squads, as well as the numerous other modes Fortnite offers. Then there's Fortnite's building aspect which adds another dimension to its longevity
of course, the building also hurts fortnite's access, but I feel as if people are pushing for a ranked mode that is meant to tackle that issue. Then there's the cosmetics and in-game events. No game does this quite like Fortnite, and neither Apex or Blackout seem to be able to try. I havent once cared to look at cosmetic skins in Apex, but I love the emotes and skins in Fortnite.
Fortnite also reacts really quick to the competition. Already they have a ping system and respawn beacons coming soon. It's a testament to how easily they are able to evolve the game as a service.
Im not a game designer though, so that's not to say they wont give us a lot of cool stuff, but I think Fortnite's style is undeniably less restrictive in gameplay and cosmetics. I just feel like a class based FPP BR game is inherently harder to design and balance.
These are all fair and understandable points, but you are comparing the biggest game on the planet, one of the biggest of all time, to something that came out about 7 weeks ago.
The fact that Apex Legends is even competing with Fortnite is testament to what a superb base game they've built.
In my opinion, there is a lot they could do and re-work some Titanfall ideas into the game.
A lot of the current abilities are based on that game already, as are the weapons, so here are a few things we could see:
- NPC's - Titanfall was full of them. Grunts, Spectres, and even Titans in some modes. Could they introduce these into the game somehow? Or a special event?
- Map changes - It doesn't need to be a new map. But they could refresh the existing one in meaningful ways. E.g Drop Ship crashed in the ground somewhere or a Titan graveyard
- Weapons and Abilities - there are still a few from Titanfall 2 we've not seen. Perhaps they've been dismissed already, but there are some things that could work. And I bet Respawn have a whole host of rejected Titanfall ideas that could work in Apex.
- New modes - Solo, Duos, Quads. They could introduce these things. But what about a Bounty Hunt style mode with NPCs and a Bounty on the 'kill leader' ?
I have complete faith in Respawn. I loved Titanfall, I loved Titanfall 2, and I feel many of their ideas and modes went under appreciated or underfulfilled.
With Apex, they have the audience to really push the boundaries.
Some things will land, some will completely miss, and some may be came changers.
But can they push Fortnite and PUBG in the medium/long term? I think they really can and I look forward to seeing what comes down the pipeline over the coming months (or even years).
