Apex Legends: New, free battle royale game gets a million players in just a few hours

Xbox One, PlayStation and PC title already the most streamed on Twitch

(EA)

Apex Legends – a brand new, free-to-play battle royale game – is already one of the world's most popular titles.

The game has more than a million players just hours after it has launched, and has quickly become the most popular game on streaming service Twitch.

The Xbox, PlayStation and PC title is a spin-off from popular series Titanfall, but appeared slightly by surprise overnight.

Already, however, it has been the subject of a vast marketing campaign as well as discussion by influencers, which have led to people pouring into the game.

The game can be downloaded now over the Origins store for PC, as well as on PlayStation 4 or Xbox One. It is free to download, though it has in-app purchases.

Apex Legends is set in the same universe as Titanfall, allowing players to choose from a cast of different characters and play with the same kinds of mechanics.

Though it borrows from the same functions as other battle royale games like PUBG and Fortnite and requires people to try and kill all other players before they die, it also has specific additions from Respawn, the developers of Titanfall. Players can choose from one of eight different legends, each of which has different abilities and playstyles.

Developers say they hope the game's different characters and abilities allow players to join together and work out the best strategies to stay alive.

“Our goal in every game you play is that you come in with a plan but you leave with a story,” said Drew McCoy, Lead Producer for Apex Legends. “We’re building a game that is not only going to deliver a fun and memorable experience at launch, but something we can keep growing for a long time to come.”

It also bring other changes from the traditional battle royale mechanics, including the ability to choose exactly where in the map players start.

Like other games such as Fortnite, the game will run in seasons. Each new season will be themed and bring a host of relevant content.

The first of those will begin in March and will ask players to pay for a Battle Pass, which will give them access to exclusive cosmetic items that can be earned by playing.