Apex Legends on Switch: features, storage, crossplay

This article was written in cooperation with SanDisk.

Take King's Gulch with you wherever you go! In this guide to Apex Legends on the Nintendo Switch, you'll find out:

  • What features the Switch version comes with
  • How the performance on the console turns out
  • How much storage space you should keep free

Apex Legends on Switch: all the content, and nice and handy

Apex Legends on Nintendo Switch features all the content of the other PlayStation, Xbox, and PC versions. You can play all Legends, modes, and maps. Seasons change at the same time as the other systems, and new characters, weapons and other content come into the game in parallel.

The Nintendo version has some handling specialties: Apex Legends uses the console's motion sensors - so you can aim by moving the handheld or the Joy-Cons. Of course, the Switch version also has the advantage of the handheld mode: You can now play Apex whenever and wherever you want. Those who log in to the game for the first time on the Switch will also get the Nintendo red P.A.T.H. skin for the robot legend Pathfinder as a gift.

Storage: How big is Apex Legends on the Switch?

Apex Legends is a massive game and challenges the internal memory of the Nintendo Switch. Around 25 GB of data is created during the installation - this means that the 32 GB of storage in the console is virtually full. A remedy is micro-SD cards for memory expansion, which you can insert into the slot on the back of the Switch. It is a good idea to use a bit more memory to be ready for the future.

In cooperation with SanDisk

Do you need extra space to install Apex Legends on the Switch? Memory manufacturer SanDisk has something for you: the official Apex Legends memory card in a matching design, officially licensed by Nintendo to boot. The Apex card offers 128 GB of high-performance storage for all your games, plus it transfers data at up to 100 MB per second.

With the official SD card from SanDisk, you're guaranteed that the card will work flawlessly with the Switch and Switch Lite. You can also see at a glance which card you have installed the game on. Very handy if you have a lot of games on the Switch and regularly switch between cards!

Fancy a SanDisk SD card with Apex Legends branding? Then read on - at the bottom of the article you can win one of five cards.

Cost: Free-to-play on the Switch, too

Apex Legends is free-to-play on all platforms, and of course that includes the Nintendo Switch! You can download and play the game completely free of charge. You only pay money for cosmetic content, additional playable Legends or the Battle Pass, but these are completely optional. By the way, you don't need a subscription to the Nintendo Switch Online service either: Actually, a membership to the service is necessary to play online games on the Switch. However, free-to-play games are excluded from this - and thus also Apex Legends.

Apex Legends: Performance on Nintendo Switch

The Nintendo Switch is a mobile and flexible console, but it is not quite as strong as the other systems in terms of performance. Resolution and frame rate traditionally turn out lower than on Playstation, Xbox or PC. This is also the case with Apex Legends: the level of detail of the environment and objects is lower in a direct comparison, the game runs at 30 FPS instead of 60 FPS (frames per second) and reaches a maximum resolution of 720p in dock mode and 520p in handheld mode. That's less than the other platforms - but you can't take them with you everywhere!

Apex Legends: Is there cross-play & cross-save on Nintendo Switch?

Apex Legends supports cross-play between all platforms - this also applies to the Switch version. So you can meet gamers from PlayStation, Xbox or PC in the game. Of course, only if you want to: Cross-platform play can be switched on or off at any time. You can access the option by pressing the plus button in the main menu, then clicking on "Settings" and scrolling to "Cross-Platform Play" in the "Gameplay" tab.

Note: Crossplay is enabled by default on Apex Legends! Since the Switch version is weaker in terms of performance than other consoles or PCs, this can be noticeable in the gameplay: Your visibility is not as high as that of your opponents on other systems and the frame rate is lower - in critical situations, this can make the difference between survival and defeat. If you don't see any land in Apex Legends on the Switch, we recommend deactivating crossplay. Then you will only play together with Switch players and everyone will have the same conditions.

Unfortunately, Apex Legends does not offer cross-save (also called cross-progression). You have to log in with an EA account when you start the game for the first time, but you can use your existing account if you already have one. However, you cannot take progress earned on other platforms with you to the Switch: You'll start over on the Nintendo console, and you won't take any skins or unlocked Legends with you.

Made his debut in Season 8 shortly before the Switch release: the explosive legend Fuse.

Sweepstakes: Get an Apex Legends-look microSD card from SanDisk

To enter the sweepstakes, all you have to do is fill out the form below and then cross your fingers.

The prizes are:

  • 5x SANDISK microSDXC™ UHS-I memory card for Nintendo Switch in Apex Legends design (128 GB storage)

The sweepstakes will run from March 29 until April 12, 2021 at 10:00am.

If the sweepstakes form does not display correctly, please click here:

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