Apex Legends' Grand Soirée Arcade event adds seven modes and fancy skins

(Image credit: Respawn/EA)

Apex Legends is ringing in the new year with a party fit for Gatsby himself - and with just as much murder! The Apex Legends Grand Soirée Arcade Event will begin on January 14 and run until January 28, and it's offering seven brand new limited-time game modes. You read that right, seven. Check out the trailer below.

The dress code is "formal skins" and the entire crew seems to have followed orders, donning an array of Art Deco inspired outfits and cosmetics. Pathfinder looks like a butler robot from an episode of Doctor Who (he even has a gold mustache), Bangalore is sporting some Egyptian-esque garb, and Bloodhound is all gold and teal like a Roaring Twenties skyscraper. 

You'll be able to shop for a mix of Legendary skins and other on-theme cosmetics at a $5 price point, and six new Legendary skins will be added to the core loot pool. You'll also be able to get more rewards and enjoy more ways to earn with the new track system. 

But what we're all really interested in are the game modes. There are seven rotating limited time modes that will rotate every two days. There are a few classics like Armed and Dangerous, but most of the game modes are brand new. Each mode will have three challenges worth a total of 1,000 Apex Points. Here are all the modes that will rotate throughout the Grand Soirée Arcade Event: 

  • Gold Rush Duos (January 14): Duos, but with legendary (gold) weapons only 
  • Live. Die. Live (January 16): Automatically respawn on living squadmates when the ring closes
  • Third Person Mode (January 18): A classic out-of-body experience
  • Always Be Closing (January 20): Keep on the move, avoiding big damage from a ring that won't slow down
  • Armed and Dangerous on World's Edge (January 22): Shotguns and snipers with limited armor
  • Kings Canyon After Dark (January 24): It's Kings Canyon, but in the dark
  • Dummies Big Day (January 26): Billed simply as "this game ain't gonna test itself", it looks like you'll be mowing down practice dummies

Just when I think I've stepped away from the drop ship for a while, Apex Legends sucks me back in with a brand new event full of innovative modes and tons of fun. I wish I knew how to quit you. 

If you wanna play as good as you look, check out our Apex Legends tips

Alyssa Mercante

Alyssa Mercante is an editor and features writer at GamesRadar based out of Brooklyn, NY. Prior to entering the industry, she got her Masters's degree in Modern and Contemporary Literature at Newcastle University with a dissertation focusing on contemporary indie games. She spends most of her time playing competitive shooters and in-depth RPGs and was recently on a PAX Panel about the best bars in video games. In her spare time Alyssa rescues cats, practices her Italian, and plays soccer.