An aerial view of a battle royale map at night

No. 06Squad battle royale

Apex Legends: superb shooting, narrower kit

Name: Apex Legends: superb shooting, narrower kit
Item: Apex Legends
Rating: 7.0
Author: Kit List

Respawn's squad battle royale still moves better than anything else, but it has left Steam Deck and the original Switch behind.

Free to playPEGI 16Checked 24 September 2026

7.0/ 10

01 · the kit listWhere Apex Legends plays

Free on PC, both PlayStation and Xbox generations and Switch 2. It no longer runs on Linux or Steam Deck, the original Switch version has been switched off, and there is no phone version.

Desktop PC
Steam, the EA app or Epic, with an EA account. The minimum is a GTX 950-class card.
Plays
Everyday laptop
The minimum card is close to what the newest integrated graphics can do, so recent laptops may manage at low settings; older ones will not.
With caveats
Steam Deck
Unsupported: EA blocked Linux and Steam Deck in October 2024 because of cheating.
Not available · Unsupported
PlayStation 5
Native PS5 version, enhanced for PS5 Pro; the PS4 version is still sold.
Plays
Xbox Series X|S
Smart Delivery covers Xbox One and Series X|S.
Plays
Nintendo Switch 2
Native Switch 2 version since 5 August 2025. The original Switch version stopped working on 4 August 2026; progress carries over.
Plays · Switch 2 only
Phone & tablet
No phone version; the old mobile edition closed in 2023.
Not available
Mac
No Mac version.
Not available
Cloud streaming
Stream the EA app version through GeForce NOW; it is not on Xbox cloud streaming or PS Plus Premium.
With caveats · GeForce NOW

02 · on a PCWhat your PC needs

System: 64-bit Windows 10
Processor: Core i3 6300 or AMD FX 4350
Memory: 6 GB
Graphics: GeForce GTX 950 or Radeon HD 7790 (2 GB)
Storage: 75 GB

System: 64-bit Windows 10
Processor: Ryzen 5 or equivalent
Memory: 8 GB
Graphics: GeForce GTX 970 or Radeon R9 290
Storage: 75 GB

Published by Respawn and EA on Steam. DirectX 12, an EA account and a permanent internet connection are required. Official requirements.

03 · the verdictBrilliant to play, hard to join late

Apex Legends is a squad battle royale: teams of three drop onto a large map, gather weapons and equipment and fight until one team remains. Each player picks a Legend with abilities that shape the team: scouting, healing, shields or movement.

Nothing else on the list moves as well. Sliding, climbing and firing feel superb, and the ping system, which lets you mark enemies and items without a microphone, has been copied across the genre ever since.

The difficulty for a newcomer is the player base. After years of seasons, the average opponent is experienced, and early matches can be short and bruising. The shop is also the most aggressive on the list: Apex Packs and event packs contain random items, EA publishes the chances, and the premium costume events are expensive.

Kit has narrowed. It runs on PC, PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo Switch 2, but the original Switch version was switched off in August 2026, its publisher blocked Linux in 2024, which rules out the Steam Deck, and there is no Mac or phone version.

Start it if…

you want the best-feeling shooter movement around and have a squad willing to learn together.

Skip it if…

you want a relaxed start, or you play on a Steam Deck, Mac or phone.

04 · the score7.0 out of 10, and why

The game itself8.3 · weight 40%
Some of the best movement and shooting in any game.
Kit reach5.6 · weight 20%
PC, PlayStation, Xbox and Switch 2; no Steam Deck, original Switch, Mac or phones.
Fair price6.2 · weight 20%
Free to play, but random packs and expensive events weigh on it.
Starting in 20266.4 · weight 20%
Years of experienced players make the first weeks tough.

05 · the billWhat it costs in the UK

Store	What you get	Price
All platforms	Apex Legends	Free
Xbox Store	1,000 Apex Coins	£8.99
Xbox Store	Ultimate Battle Pass (current split)	£8.99

Online play on consoles

PlayStation: Not needed; free to play
Xbox: Not needed; free to play
Nintendo: Not needed; free to play

What the shop sells

Apex Coins buy Apex Packs, event packs and other packs with random contents, as well as specific cosmetics, new Legends and the battle pass. EA publishes the chances for its packs and guarantees a legendary item within a set number of packs, but these are still paid random items.

PEGI purchase descriptor: In-game purchases (includes random items).

There are no editions. Download it free, and treat the shop with care: its packs have random contents.

06 · starting in 2026Still evolving, for a narrower set of kit

Season 30 arrived in August 2026 with a Bloodhound rework and a reworked World's Edge, and the same update switched off the original Switch version in favour of Switch 2. EA has planned a Legend rework and a major ranked update for the next two seasons.

5 August 2025
Season 26 added the 30-player Wildcard mode, and the Switch 2 version launched. Source.
5 May 2026
Season 29 brought a new Legend, Axle. Source.
4 August 2026
Season 30 reworked Bloodhound and World's Edge; the original Switch version was switched off. Source.
22 September 2026
A Street Fighter 6 crossover event began. Source.

EA's 2026 roadmap lists a Legend rework for Season 31 and a new Legend and a major ranked update for Season 32, without dates.

07 · strengths and catchesWorth knowing

Strengths

Outstanding movement and gunplay
The ping system makes playing with strangers workable
Free to play with a large cast of Legends
Crossplay across PC and consoles

Catches

Experienced opponents make the first weeks tough
Sells packs with random contents, and pricey event bundles
No longer playable on Steam Deck or Linux

08 · first stepsBefore your first session

Start in the training modes and the firing range to learn recoil before public matches.
Pick a support Legend first; staying alive and helping the team teaches the most.
Use the ping wheel constantly, even with friends on voice chat.
If you set spending limits anywhere, do it here first: the packs are designed to be tempting.