Respawn Entertainment released a small Apex Legends update on December 2, 2025 for the Steam client that changes care package timing, slows missile recharge, and fixes an emote lock affecting the Mythic R-99 Bird of Prey.
The most obvious gameplay tweak moves the Bird of Prey care package to spawn later in matches and reduces how often it appears. That adjustment affects when teams can contest high-value mythic loot and follows earlier changes to care package weapons like the care package CAR in the Season 27.
Projectile balance saw a quick tune, with missile recharge time increased to lower the overall lethality of the weapon. Slower recharge will reduce sustained pressure from missile spam and make timing windows for counterplay larger in extended fights compared with the previous cadence of engagements.
Respawn also closed a bug that could lock core gameplay inputs when players used emotes while the Mythic R-99 Bird of Prey was equipped. That fix joins a string of small, targeted patches the developer has pushed this season, similar in scope to recent hotfixes such as the 11/20/2025 fixes for progression and weapon animations.
Players reporting performance drops on Nvidia hardware are advised to update their drivers, Respawn links to an Nvidia support page and notes the issue may be tied to a recent Windows update. The previous targeted server and map fixes around ziplines and lighting came in a similarly focused patch earlier in the season, Update 27.0.2.
Patch Notes – 12/2/2025
Hey legends, we just pushed a handful of fixes:
- The Bird of Prey Care Package will now spawn later in-game and less frequently
- The missile recharge time has been increased to reduce the overall lethality of the weapon
- Emotes will no longer lock players’ gameplay mechanics when are performed with Mythic R-99 Bird of Prey selected
- For players who are experiencing performance issues with Nvidia GPUs please try updating to the hotfix latest driver version. This may help players experiencing performance issues. (This may also be tied to a recent Windows update)
Leave a comment with your experience after the patch and follow us on X, Bluesky, and YouTube.
Apex Legends
Developed by Respawn Entertainment
Conquer with character in Apex Legends, a free-to-play Hero shooter where legendary characters with powerful abilities team up to battle for fame & fortune on the fringes of the Frontier.
Master an ever-growing roster of diverse Legends, deep tactical squad play and bold new innovations that go beyond the Battle Royale experience—all within a rugged world where anything goes. Welcome to the next evolution of Hero Shooter.
- Genre: Shooter, Tactical
- Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch 2, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
- Modes: Multiplayer, Co-operative, Battle Royale
- Release: 2019-02-04
- Publisher: Electronic Arts
-
Age Rating:
PEGI 16 / CERO D / GRAC 19+ / USK 16 / CLASS_IND 14 / ACB MA 15+ / ESRB T
- IGDB Rating: 75.5/100
