Apex Legends Nintendo Switch release date announced

Apex Legends Fuse
(Image credit: EA/Respawn)

The Apex Legends Nintendo Switch release date has been confirmed for March 9. 

Respawn Entertainment has announced on a blog post that the popular battle royale shooter will be coming to the Nintendo Switch consoles in just over a month’s time, complete with full cross-play compatibility and 30 free Battle Pass levels.

Apex Legends on the Switch will also launch with the latest season – Mayhem – which goes live later today, adding its 16th new Legend Fuse to the Apex Games, as well as a dramatically changed Kings Canyon map. Get an early look at it with the Apex Legends season 8 trailer

Seeing as how the Switch launch comes a few weeks after the start of Season 8, Respawn has explained in a blog post that it is granting Switch players 30 free levels for their Season 8 Battle Pass, and double experience for two weeks following the release.

The official EA blog explains: “Switch players will be granted 30 free levels for their Season 8 Battle Pass. For the first two weeks after launch, playing on Switch will also earn you double XP”.

Developers EA and Respawn Entertainment have worked with Panic Button, a team who has handled other big title Switch ports like Doom Eternal, Rocket League, Subnautica, and many more, to bring the battle royale shooter to Nintendo’s handheld system.

A Switch port of Apex was revealed back in 2020, but for various reasons, the release kept getting pushed back. In a press release, Respawn hails the port as “a major achievement” which “couldn’t have been done without our friends at Panic Button”.

Season 8 of Apex Legends goes live later today. You can download Apex Legends on Nintendo Switch on March 9 for free or enjoy Season 8 - Mayhem on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and PC via Origin and Steam.

For more on Respawn's colorful shooter, check out our Apex Legends tips. 

Jack Webb

I'm a freelance reporter for Gamesradar - games and films are my jam, so you'll mostly find me gushing about my undying love of Xenoblade Chronicles, Lord of the Rings, and how Persona 4 Golden changed my life.