Respawn Entertainment finally showed off Apex Legends running on Nintendo Switch. The first game trailer was released on Tuesday and looks a lot like the Apex Legends you’re used to, just a little smaller.
Although the footage is more recognizable as the Apex Legends players expect over the past few years, there is a notable difference: the game appears to be running at a lower resolution than its console and PC counterparts. Switch ports often suffer a visual blow when arriving from other platforms, and it appears that Apex Legends is no different.
One question the trailer doesn’t answer is how smooth and consistent the game’s frame rate will be. While this is certainly a highlight of the other versions, the less powerful switch can struggle when things get hectic, but I hope the lower resolution will help with that. While the console and PC versions of the game can run at 60 fps (or higher), the Switch will likely run at 30 fps, although Respawn has yet to officially announce a frame rate for the platform.
The Switch version of Apex Legends will include all the features in the console and PC versions of the game, and will be in the same patch and season cycle as well. The new version will also feature cross-play, so that Switch players can play online with and against players on all other platforms.
Switching players will receive a free Legendary skin for a limited time for Pathfinder. Since the game will be released in the middle of a new season, Switch players will also receive the first 30 levels of the season 8 battle pass for free, as well as double XP in the first two weeks after the game’s release. Why Apex Legends progress is not carried over from platform to platform, which should be a good bonus for new and old players.
Apex Legends is set to arrive on the Nintendo Switch on March 9.