Apex Legends

A battle royale built around Legends

Apex Legends is a free-to-play battle royale shooter from Respawn Entertainment. EA describes it as a game where characters with powerful abilities team up to compete for fame and fortune on the fringes of the Frontier. Each Legend has a distinct skill set, so choosing a character is part of a squad’s approach to a match. The official site presents the roster as an evolving lineup of outlaws, soldiers and other personalities.

The core Battle Royale mode is described by EA as a 60-person match. Players land on a large map, search for supplies and fight as the playable area changes. The ESRB listing describes squad-based combat on an island and explains that the area shrinks over time. The exact match flow, maps and available characters change as the game receives updates, so the current in-game menu is the best place to see what is active.

Modes, maps and the wider world

EA lists limited-time modes and takeovers alongside classic Battle Royale. These offer rotating ways to play, while the main mode provides a familiar competitive format for squads. The official site also points to maps across planets in the Outlands and presents the game’s story through character backstories, comics and animated shorts. That gives the game a broader world beyond individual matches, without requiring a player to follow every external story to participate.

The game is online and built around multiplayer. EA’s FAQ explains account and platform considerations, while its download page lists current platforms and optional in-game purchases. Because live-service rotations can change, a particular limited-time mode should not be assumed to remain available indefinitely. Seasonal patch notes and the official news feed are the most reliable places to check the current map pool, balance changes and event timing.

Current season and updates

EA’s season guide identifies Marked as the season that launched on 4 August 2026. The guide says the season includes a rework for Bloodhound, changing passive tracking and the character’s ultimate ability. EA also published Marked midseason notes in September 2026, showing that updates continue during a season rather than arriving only at its start.

Apex Legends has changed substantially over its lifetime through new characters, maps, modes and balance updates. The official season archive records earlier seasons and their dates. New or returning players can use that archive to understand what has changed, but current patch notes should take precedence for weapon values and character abilities. This guide avoids treating older balance details as permanent and points readers to EA’s live season materials for current information.

Price, platforms and purchases

EA lists Apex Legends’ base download at $0.00. The game is free to start, with optional purchases of virtual currency and in-game items. EA’s store terms specifically warn that some virtual items may be obtained through a random selection. Players should check the current platform store for the available currencies and purchase controls, especially if they are managing spending on a child’s account.

EA’s download page lists the EA app, Steam, Epic Games, PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox and Nintendo Switch. Platform support can change over time, so the linked official page should be checked before installing on an older console. The publisher’s FAQ also notes that playing across Steam and EA App with the same linked account at the same time can cause progression issues. Use one platform session at a time and follow EA’s support guidance if account progress does not appear as expected.

Age rating and getting started

The ESRB rates Apex Legends Teen for blood and violence. Its listing also includes Users Interact and In-Game Purchases, and describes first-person squad combat, firearms, explosives and finishing moves. The full rating page contains the detailed content summary, which is more useful than the age label alone when deciding whether the game is suitable for a younger player.

New players can begin with the free base game, learn a Legend’s abilities and practise squad communication in the available modes. Since the selection of maps, modes and balance changes moves with the live service, check EA’s news and patch notes for current details. The facts in this guide come from EA’s official pages and the ESRB listing opened on 30 October 2026.