If you just downloaded Apex Legends to your Nintendo Switch for the first time, you’re probably staring at the main menu right now wondering if you have to drop extra cash to play with your friends. I’ve been playing Apex on Switch since its 2021 launch, and I’ve lost count of how many times friends have asked me do i need nintendo online for apex legends before they jump into a match. The answer isn’t a simple yes or no, because it depends entirely on what you want to get out of the game. This guide breaks down exactly when you need a subscription, when you can skip it, and how to save money if you do decide to pay.
Do I Need Nintendo Online for Apex Legends Core Multiplayer?
Let’s start with the most common use case: you want to drop into a standard battle royale match, play arenas, or climb the ranked ladder with your friends. Nintendo requires a paid Online subscription for all peer-to-peer online multiplayer games on its platform, and Apex Legends falls into this category. That means if you try to join a public match without an active subscription, you’ll get a pop-up error asking you to sign up for Nintendo Online before you can proceed.
I learned this the hard way when my annual subscription lapsed mid-season a couple years ago: I was all ready to grind for a new ranked badge, and I couldn’t even get past the match-making screen. It’s not a rule set by Respawn or EA, it’s a platform-wide requirement for all Switch games that have online multiplayer, so there’s no way around it if you want to play actual matches. You also need the subscription to join custom lobbies, participate in limited-time event game modes, and send in-game friend requests to other players on Switch or other platforms.
The only exception to this rule is if you’re playing on a college or public Wi-Fi network that has a special agreement with Nintendo for free online access, but that’s extremely rare for most players. For 99% of people, any mode that connects you to other real players will require an active Nintendo Online subscription.
Apex Legends Modes You Can Play Without Nintendo Online
But that doesn’t mean the game is completely unplayable if you don’t have a subscription. There are plenty of features you can access completely for free, no internet or paid membership required. The most common ones include:
- Firing range: Test every legend ability, weapon attachment, and movement trick like wall bounces or tap strafes (adjusted for Switch controls) with no internet connection required. You can even spawn dummy enemies to practice your aim or test out new sensitivity settings without wasting match time.
- Account and customization access: Edit your legend skins, weapon charms, banner frames, and track your battle pass progress even if you’re offline. You can also review your past match stats and leaderboard rankings without a subscription, so you can still brag about your recent 4k damage game to friends even if your membership lapsed.
- Replay viewing: If you saved match replays to your Switch local storage before your subscription lapsed, you can watch them back anytime without being connected online or having an active subscription. This is perfect if you want to study your gameplay to fix mistakes or clip a cool play to share on social media.
You won't lose access to your earned cosmetics or battle pass progress if your subscription lapses. I’ve had months where I didn’t play any Switch games, so I let my subscription run out, and all my legendary Wraith skins and battle pass tiers were still there when I resubscribed three months later. That means you can still log in to claim free daily login rewards, check out new cosmetic drops in the item shop, and plan out which skins you want to grind for next, even if you don’t have an active subscription. The only catch is you can’t actually earn battle pass XP or complete challenges without playing matches, which requires the subscription.
Extra Perks of Nintendo Online for Apex Legends Players
If you do decide to pay for a subscription, you get more than just access to standard matches. There are a few hidden perks that most Apex Switch players don’t know about that make the cost worth it for regular players. First, you get full access to crossplay, which lets you match and queue with friends on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC. Crossplay is enabled by default for Switch players with an active Nintendo Online subscription, so you won't be stuck matching only against other Switch users.
That’s a big plus, because the Switch player base is smaller than other platforms, so crossplay cuts down on match wait times a lot. I’ve noticed that when I turn crossplay off, I wait 2-3 times longer for a match, and the lobbies are often less balanced than crossplay lobbies. You also get access to Nintendo Online exclusive in-game rewards from time to time. In the past, Respawn has given out free weapon charms, banner frames, and even rare skin variants only for Switch Online members during seasonal launch events.
You also get cloud save support for your local Apex settings, so if your Switch gets damaged or lost, you won’t have to redo all your custom control mappings or sensitivity settings when you get a new device. That saved me a ton of time when I upgraded from the original Switch to the OLED model last year, I didn’t have to spend 20 minutes readjusting all my controller settings to match what I was used to.
Tips to Save on Nintendo Online for Regular Apex Players
So if you play Apex on Switch regularly, the subscription cost can add up over time, but there are plenty of ways to cut down on the expense without giving up access to matches. You can pause and restart your Nintendo Online subscription at any time, so you don't have to pay for months you won't be playing Apex. For example, if you only play during the first two weeks of a new season to grind out the battle pass, you can buy a 1-month subscription, cancel auto-renew, and only pay for the time you actually use.
If you have friends or family members who also play Switch games, the family plan is the best deal by far. A family plan costs around $35 a year for up to 8 accounts, which works out to less than $5 per person per year, way cheaper than the $20 individual annual plan. I split a family plan with three of my friends who play Animal Crossing and Mario Kart, and we each pay less than $10 a year for full online access, which is a steal compared to paying for individual plans.
You can also look for free trial codes that come with physical Switch game purchases, or that Nintendo gives away during holiday sales and eShop events. Respawn also sometimes gives out free 7-day Nintendo Online trials to Apex players when a new season launches, so make sure to check your in-game notifications when a new split drops to see if you qualify for a free trial. I’ve gotten three free trials over the past two years, which saved me almost $15 in subscription fees.
At the end of the day, the answer to do i need nintendo online for apex legends depends entirely on what you want to do in the game. If you only want to mess around in the firing range to practice your aim, customize your legend skins, or watch old replays, you don’t need to pay for a subscription at all. If you want to play public matches, queue with friends, or participate in limited time events, you will need an active Nintendo Online subscription to play. If you're on the fence, test out a free trial first to see how Apex runs on your Switch before committing to a subscription. I always recommend new players try a 7-day trial first to make sure they enjoy the controls and performance on Switch before spending money on a subscription, especially if they already play Apex on another platform. There’s no right or wrong choice, but knowing exactly what you get for your money makes it easier to decide what works for your playstyle and budget.