If you just downloaded Apex Legends on your Nintendo Switch and are staring at the main menu wondering if you can jump into a match right now, you’re not alone. Thousands of new Switch players ask do you need nintendo online to play apex legends every month, especially since free-to-play games sometimes have different subscription rules than paid titles. I’ve been playing Apex on Switch for three years, so I’ve tested every possible scenario from playing on a road trip with no Wi-Fi to grinding ranked with friends across PS5 and Xbox. This guide breaks down exactly what you need to play, plus workarounds if you don’t want to pay for a subscription right now.
Do You Need Nintendo Online to Play Apex Legends Core Modes?
First, let’s cut straight to the most common question: for any of Apex’s core online game modes, you do need an active Nintendo Online subscription to play. That includes Battle Royale, Arenas, Ranked play, and limited-time event modes that require connecting to Respawn’s servers. The rule applies even though Apex is a free-to-play title, because Nintendo restricts all online multiplayer access for Switch games to subscribers, regardless of whether you paid for the base game or not. If you’re wondering do you need nintendo online to play apex legends with friends, the answer is almost always yes, even if all of you are playing on Switch consoles. I found this out the hard way my first week playing, when I tried to join a friend’s squad without renewing my subscription and got locked out of matchmaking entirely. The only exception here is the game’s offline training mode, which you can access with no internet or subscription at all to practice movement, aim, and character abilities.
What You Can Do in Apex Legends on Switch Without Nintendo Online
If you don’t have a Nintendo Online subscription right now, that doesn’t mean you can’t get value out of your Apex download. There are a handful of useful things you can access completely for free, no subscription or internet required:
- Complete the full offline training course to practice sliding, zip line jumps, and recoil control for every weapon in the game
- Browse all character abilities, backstories, and unlockable skins to decide which legend you want to main first
- Test every weapon and attachment in the firing range to find the loadout that fits your playstyle best
- Review your past match stats, badge progress, and unlockable trackers to see how you’ve improved over time
I usually use the firing range when I don’t have Wi-Fi on long car rides to warm up my aim before I get home and jump into ranked matches. Just keep in mind you won’t be able to save any loadout presets or earn new cosmetics while you’re playing offline, since those changes need to sync to Respawn’s cloud servers.
Extra Perks of Nintendo Online for Apex Legends Players
Even if you’re only a casual Apex player, a Nintendo Online subscription comes with a few unexpected perks that make the low monthly cost worth it for most people. First, you get access to crossplay with players on all other platforms, including PS4, PS5, Xbox, and PC. If you’ve been asking do you need nintendo online to play apex legends crossplay, this is why the answer is yes. That means you can squad up with friends no matter what console they play on, and you’ll be matched with a much larger pool of players to reduce queue times for all modes. You also get access to free monthly Nintendo Switch Online rewards that occasionally include Apex Legends coins, exclusive weapon skins, or battle pass tiers for no extra cost. I’ve gotten 1,000 Apex coins twice in the last year from these free rewards, which covered the cost of two full battle passes without me spending any extra money. Subscribers also get cloud save support for Apex, so you won’t lose your progress if your Switch gets lost, stolen, or damaged. That’s a huge relief for anyone who’s put hundreds of hours into unlocking badges and rare skins.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Playing Apex on Switch
Now that you know the subscription requirements, there are a few common mistakes new Switch Apex players make that can ruin your experience, even if you have an active Nintendo Online subscription. First, don’t skip the system update for Apex before you try to play online. If your game version is out of date, you’ll get locked out of matchmaking even if your subscription is active, and you’ll have to wait for the update to download before you can play. Second, don’t turn off crossplay if you want short queue times. The Switch-only player pool is really small, so you could end up waiting 10+ minutes for a single match if you disable crossplay. I made this mistake when I first started because I thought I’d have an easier time playing against other Switch players, but the wait times just weren’t worth it. Third, make sure you renew your Nintendo Online subscription a few days before it expires if you play ranked. If your subscription runs out in the middle of a ranked split, you won’t be able to play any more matches to hit your rank goal before the split ends, and you’ll lose out on the end-of-split rewards. It’s also a good idea to test your internet connection before jumping into ranked matches, because Switch Wi-Fi can be spotty if you’re far from your router.
At the end of the day, the answer to do you need nintendo online to play apex legends depends entirely on what you want to get out of the game. If you just want to practice in the firing range and learn character abilities, you don’t need a subscription at all. If you want to jump into Battle Royale, ranked, or squad up with friends, you’ll need an active subscription to access those online modes. For most players, the low monthly cost of Nintendo Online is more than worth it for the crossplay access, free rewards, and cloud save support that comes with it. If you’re still on the fence, you can always sign up for the 7-day free trial of Nintendo Online to test out Apex’s online modes before you commit to paying for a full month or year subscription.