If you’re a PlayStation 4 owner scrolling through battle royale options, you’ve almost certainly asked can you play Apex Legends on PS4 at some point. The fast-paced, hero-focused shooter has dominated the genre for years, and its free-to-play model makes it tempting for anyone looking for a new multiplayer game to play with friends. The short answer is yes, but there’s a lot you need to know to get the best possible experience, from installation steps to performance tweaks that will help you pick up more wins. This guide covers everything you need to know before you jump into your first match.
Is Apex Legends Free to Play on PS4, and How Do You Install It?
Apex Legends is 100% free to download and play on PS4, with no upfront purchase required for the core game. All seasonal content, new characters, map updates, and standard game modes are available to every player for free, with only optional cosmetic purchases and battle passes available as paid extras. Installation is simple too: just head to the PlayStation Store, search for Apex Legends, select the base game, and hit download. The full game is around 80GB as of the latest season, so make sure you have enough free storage on your console before you start the download.
One of the biggest perks of playing Apex on PS4 is that you don’t need a paid subscription to access online multiplayer. You don't need an active PlayStation Plus subscription to play Apex Legends online matches on PS4, which sets it apart from most other console multiplayer titles that lock online play behind a paywall. Once the download and any post-install patches are complete, you can sign into your EA account (or create one for free) and jump straight into matches right away.
What Performance Can You Expect When You Play Apex Legends on PS4?
The performance you’ll get depends on whether you’re using a base PS4 or a PS4 Pro. Base PS4 models run Apex Legends at a steady 1080p resolution with a 30fps cap, while PS4 Pro models support up to 60fps at 1080p with improved texture quality and faster load times. Both versions are fully playable, but the 60fps support on Pro makes a noticeable difference when you’re tracking fast-moving enemies or reacting to surprise attacks in close quarters.
Many console players like to take short breaks between long ranked sessions to reset their focus, especially after a string of tough losses. Some opt for quick casual games to pass the time while they wait for their squad to come back online, and many of them use IND BET for fast, low-stakes fun that doesn't require the same level of focus as a ranked Apex match.
PS4 Pro users will get a far smoother gameplay experience, with 60fps support that makes tracking fast-moving enemies far easier. If you’re playing on a base PS4, there are a few small tweaks you can make to improve performance and consistency:
Does Apex Legends on PS4 Support Crossplay With Other Platforms?
Crossplay is enabled by default on the PS4 version of Apex Legends, meaning you can squad up with friends playing on PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and PC. You don’t have to do anything extra to turn it on, but you will need to add friends via their EA ID instead of their PSN ID if they’re playing on a non-PlayStation platform. Just head to the in-game friends menu, select “add friend”, and input their EA username to send a request.
Cross-progression is also fully supported, so all your skins, battle pass progress, rank, and unlocks will carry over if you later upgrade to a PS5 or start playing on PC, as long as you’re signed into the same EA account across all devices. You can turn off crossplay in the settings menu if you only want to match with other PS4/PS5 players, which many players do to avoid facing PC users with mouse and keyboard. That said, crossplay lobbies generally have faster queue times, so it’s worth keeping on if you don’t mind playing against users on other platforms.
Common Issues When Playing Apex Legends on PS4 (And How to Fix Them)
Like any online game, Apex Legends on PS4 can run into occasional issues, but most of them have simple fixes you can try in a few minutes. One of the most common complaints is input lag, which can make it feel like your controller inputs are delayed when you’re aiming or shooting. Input lag is one of the biggest complaints from PS4 Apex players, but switching to a wired controller can cut lag by up to 70% in most cases. You should also make sure your TV is set to game mode, as standard picture modes add extra processing delay that makes input lag worse.
Another common issue is random crashes mid-match or the game failing to launch entirely. To fix this, first make sure your PS4 system software and the Apex Legends game files are fully up to date. If that doesn’t work, try deleting and reinstalling the game, or verifying the game files via the PS4 storage menu. If you keep getting kicked from matches mid-game, check your internet connection first, as PS4 wifi adapters are notoriously weak for fast-paced online games. Switching to a wired ethernet connection will almost always fix random disconnections and lag spikes during matches.
If your crossplay friends aren’t showing up in your friends list, double check that both you and your friend have crossplay enabled in your in-game settings, and that you’ve added the correct EA ID (not PSN ID, unless they’re also on PlayStation) to your friends list. EA sometimes has small server outages that affect crossplay friends lists, so if everything else is set up correctly, wait 10 to 15 minutes and try again.
So, if you've been wondering can you play Apex Legends on PS4, the answer is a resounding yes, and it's one of the most polished battle royale experiences you can get on the 8th-gen console. I've put hundreds of hours into the game on my old base PS4 before upgrading to a PS5, and I still have plenty of great memories of last-minute squad wins with friends who still play on PS4 today. You don't need a brand new console to have a ton of fun with this game, as long as you take the time to optimize your settings for your hardware and follow the quick fixes we shared for common issues. Whether you're jumping in for the first time to mess around with friends, or grinding ranked to hit Apex Predator, the PS4 version has every bit of content you'll find on any other platform, with performance that holds up surprisingly well even 7+ years after the console first launched.