The Apex Legends Global Series (ALGS) Championship kicked off with a series of unfortunate technical hiccups. Opening days are marred by frequent pauses and a server crash that forced a match restart just as it was nearing its conclusion. These disruptions raised serious questions about the tournament’s competitive integrity, especially given its $2 million prize pool.

NiceWigg and Greek react to the endgame pause in Match 4

Server crashes and delays galore

Players and fans alike were left frustrated as the tournament faced multiple pauses, often disrupting the flow of the game and delaying the schedule. These pauses were particularly irksome when they occurred during crucial endgame fights, which could have determined the champion within seconds.

But what’s worse than pauses are server crashes, which have a more significant impact on competitive integrity. This issue also reared its ugly head on the opening day, causing considerable concern among players.

Phony was vocal about his dissatisfaction, stating:

“This esport is a joke and the competitive integrity is horrible.”

Community reactions and EA’s quick response

The technical issues are not new to Apex Legends esports. Players have been vocal about similar problems in most tournaments this year, and it seems like the issues are far from over. As the ALGS Championship progresses, all eyes are on the organizers to ensure a smoother experience in the coming days.

Some people even created a special Reddit post, where you can vent your frustrations and complain about everything going wrong with the Championship.

Most of the anger in the comments is aimed at either the de-sync between Voice Comms and on-screen action or the incessant pausing and technical pauses in clutch moments. Others are just happy there is improvements from previous ALGS events, like bad PCs and even worse connection.

EA was quick to issue and address at least one problem in their competitive update.

Despite these setbacks, the ALGS Championship promises high stakes and intense competition as it progresses. The finals are scheduled to take place in Birmingham, United Kingdom, on September 10.

Apex fans still have much to look forward to, yet the question remains: Will the technical issues be resolved in time?

Read next: Here’s what to expect at the ALGS 2023 Championship