Phillip “ImperialHal” Dosen, the Apex Legends GOAT, has heaped praise on the Apex Legends Season 28 update, saying that the changes to Octane are the most fun he’s had on the game “in a long time.”

Season 28 saw a number of monumental changes for Apex Legends. These include major Legend reworks – including Octane -, weapon adjustments, the introduction of a Hardlight Mesh system, and much more.

ImperialHal took to X on February 16 to praise the current version of Octane, writing that it “might be the most fun I’ve had in Apex in a long time.” The post quickly drew attention across the competitive scene, with players debating whether the high-speed legend is finally back in a serious way.

This version of octane might be the most fun I've had in Apex in a long time

— Falcons ImperialHal (@ImperialHal) February 16, 2026

Given his stature in the Apex scene, Hal’s opinion certainly carries weight. A central figure in Apex Legends since its early days, he rose to prominence as the in-game leader of TSM, winning multiple ALGS titles before later joining Team Falcons.

What Changed for Octane?

In the Season 28 patch notes, Octane’s Daredevil upgrade’s max duration extension was reduced from 6 seconds to 3 seconds. With Daredevil, breaking enemy shields increases reload speeds, and Stim Surge lasts longer if you have less health.

Octane has always been a fan-favourite thanks to his fast-paced kit. His Stim tactical trades health for speed, while Launch Pad offers explosive repositioning for both solo plays and team fights. But despite his popularity in ranked and pubs, Octane has rarely been considered a must-pick at the highest competitive level.

Hal himself hasn’t historically been associated with the legend. Over the years, he has spent far more time on characters like Wraith — a staple during early ALGS dominance — and Horizon, particularly during more aggressive meta cycles.

Some Players Want Octane Nerfed

Octane is broken… Should get the nerf soon. At least should remove his fortified

Even worse than peak Ash

— Kingston (@kingston_elenwo) February 16, 2026

However, while Hal loves Octane, some players aren’t so happy with the state of the Legend. Many in the replies to Hal said Octane is “broken” and should be nerfed soon, especially given Fortified’s ability to let him run at supersonic speeds.

Whether that’s something Respawn Entertainment, the developers, look at remains to be seen. It is still very early in Season 28’s lifecycle, and they won’t want to move on to anything too quickly without a clear picture of the current meta.