Respawn Entertainment and Electronic Arts have officially confirmed that Apex Legends will no longer be playable on the original Nintendo Switch after August 4, 2026. The shutdown coincides with the launch of Season 30, making Season 29 the final content update the original Switch hardware will ever receive. The free to play battle royale will continue running on all other supported platforms, including PlayStation, Xbox, PC, and Nintendo's newer Switch 2 console.
End of an Era for Switch Players
Apex Legends originally launched in 2019 on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC before making its way to the Nintendo Switch in 2021. The Switch port gave handheld players access to Respawn's squad based battle royale for the first time, though the console's hardware limitations meant it was far from the ideal way to experience a competitive multiplayer shooter. Even at launch, the original Switch version was widely regarded as the weakest version of the game across all available platforms.
Now, after several years on the platform, Respawn is pulling the plug. Season 29 will serve as the final season for the original Switch version. Once Season 30 begins on August 4, 2026, the game will no longer be accessible on the original Nintendo Switch hardware.
Business as Usual Until the Shutdown
Until that August 4 cutoff, nothing changes for current Switch players. Respawn has confirmed that players can continue to jump into matches, earn rewards, and purchase in game currency exactly as they have been. The game will function normally throughout the remainder of Season 29, giving players several months of continued access before the shutdown takes effect.
Cross Progression and Currency
For players looking to continue their Apex Legends career on another platform after the shutdown, there are important details to understand about how progress and purchases transfer.
All player progress, purchases, and earnings are tied to EA accounts, which means cross progression is supported across most platforms. Players who pick up Apex Legends on Switch 2 - or on PlayStation, Xbox, or PC - will be able to continue right where they left off by logging in with their existing EA account. Cosmetic items and other purchases made with premium currency will carry over when transitioning to a new platform.
However, there is a significant caveat when it comes to Apex Coins, the game's premium in game currency. Any Apex Coins purchased or earned on the Nintendo Switch are tied specifically to Nintendo systems. This means that players who move to PlayStation, Xbox, or PC will lose access to their remaining coin balance. Those coins will not transfer to non Nintendo platforms.
Players who transition to the Nintendo Switch 2, on the other hand, will retain their full Apex Coins balance. Since the currency is tied to Nintendo systems rather than exclusively to the original Switch hardware, upgrading to the Switch 2 preserves the coin balance entirely.
Protecting Your Apex Coins
Given the currency restriction, Switch players essentially have two paths forward to avoid losing their Apex Coins:
The first option is to spend all remaining Apex Coins before August 4, 2026, and then transition to whichever platform they prefer - whether that's PlayStation, Xbox, PC, or Switch 2. Since items purchased with coins do transfer across platforms, spending the coins before migrating ensures nothing is wasted.
The second option is to upgrade to the Nintendo Switch 2 version of Apex Legends. Because Apex Coins are tied to Nintendo systems, the balance carries over directly to the Switch 2 without any loss. Players who log in on Switch 2 - even after the August 4 shutdown date - will find their coins, progress, and purchases intact.
Switch 2 Performance Upgrade
In their official announcement, Respawn Entertainment framed the decision as one driven by a commitment to delivering a quality experience for players. The studio acknowledged that the Nintendo Switch 2 offers meaningfully better performance for the game as a handheld option. Following the launch of the Switch 2, EA and Respawn updated Apex Legends with a dedicated Switch 2 edition that runs at 60 frames per second - a substantial upgrade that puts Nintendo players on more equal footing with those on other platforms.
"As we continue to evolve Apex Legends' content and technical foundation, our goal is to deliver a high quality experience. Thanks to Nintendo's investment in the Nintendo Switch 2, the platform offers a great handheld experience for Apex Legends," Respawn stated in their announcement.
The developer also expressed gratitude toward the Nintendo community that supported the game throughout its time on the original Switch: "We are deeply grateful to the Nintendo community that has been with us on this journey since Day 1, and we hope to see you on the Dropship on Nintendo Switch 2."
Other Legacy Platforms
While the original Nintendo Switch is the first platform to lose Apex Legends support, the announcement raises broader questions about the game's future on other aging hardware. The PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions of Apex Legends remain active for now, but given that these consoles share a similar generational profile to the original Switch, it remains to be seen how much longer those legacy versions will continue to receive support. Respawn has not made any announcements regarding those platforms at this time.
The Full Picture
Apex Legends will remain available on PlayStation, Xbox, PC, and Nintendo Switch 2 after the original Switch version shuts down. The game is currently available digitally on the Nintendo eShop for both the original Switch and the Switch 2. Players with questions about the transition can consult the FAQ provided by Respawn alongside their announcement.
For original Switch players, the key takeaway is straightforward: you have until August 4, 2026 to either spend your Apex Coins or plan your move to Switch 2 if you want to preserve your currency balance. Everything else - your progress, your cosmetics, your purchased items - transfers seamlessly through your EA account regardless of which platform you choose next.
