You just downloaded Apex Legends to your Switch for free, picked your favorite legend, and are ready to drop into World’s Edge with your cross-platform friends when you hit a last-second wall of confusion. Do you need to pay for a Nintendo subscription to play? It’s one of the most common questions new Switch Apex players ask, and the answer isn’t as straightforward as you might think. We’re breaking down exactly does apex legends require nintendo online, what content is locked behind the paywall, and how you can save money if you do need a subscription.
Does Apex Legends Require Nintendo Online for All Modes?
Let’s start with the short answer for anyone who’s in a rush to join a match: for all online PvP modes, yes, you do need an active Nintendo Online subscription. Nintendo requires paid online access for nearly all third-party multiplayer games on its platform, and Apex Legends is no exception to that rule. I learned this the hard way when the Switch port first launched; I showed up to a scheduled squad match with my Xbox friends only to get locked out of the lobby because I hadn’t set up my subscription yet.
This rule applies to every public match type, including casual trios, ranked leagues, rotating limited-time modes, and even private custom lobbies you set up with friends. Crossplay works exactly the same as on other platforms once you have an active subscription, too – you don’t have to pay any extra fees to play with people on PC, PlayStation, or Xbox. If you only plan to play casual public matches, ranked, or limited-time game modes with other players, you will need an active Nintendo Online subscription to access these features.
That said, there are a handful of exceptions for players who just want to mess around with the game without competing against other people. You won’t get locked out of the entire game if your subscription lapses or you don’t want to pay for access right away.
What You Can Play on Apex Legends Switch Without Nintendo Online
Respawn intentionally left low-stakes, single-player content accessible to players without a Nintendo Online subscription, so you don’t have to pay just to test if the game runs well on your Switch. The available offline content is pretty limited, but it’s enough to get a feel for the game before you commit to a subscription. You can access all of the following without paying for Nintendo Online:
- Firing range and training mode: You can practice with every weapon, legend ability, and movement mechanic without connecting to online multiplayer lobbies. This is perfect for new players who want to learn recoil patterns or test out movement tech like tap strafing before jumping into real matches.
- Offline match replay viewing: If you saved replays of previous matches when you had online access, you can watch them back without an active subscription. This is great if you want to review your gameplay to fix mistakes when you don’t have internet access or your subscription has lapsed.
- Legend and cosmetics previews: You can browse the in-game store, unlock new legends with earned legend tokens, and test out cosmetic skins in the preview menu even when offline. You won’t be able to purchase new paid cosmetics without an internet connection, but you can plan out which skins you want to buy next when you get back online.
But there’s a big catch to all of this offline content: none of it counts toward your account progression. You won’t earn XP, battle pass stars, or legend tokens for time spent in the firing range or browsing menus offline, since all progress is synced to Respawn’s cloud servers. None of your offline activity will count toward your battle pass or account progression, so you won't be able to unlock new rewards while playing without a subscription.
You also won’t be able to see your friends’ online status, send or receive friend requests, or access any community features like the in-game event newsfeed without an active subscription and internet connection.
Common Mistakes Switch Apex Players Make With Nintendo Online
After playing Apex on Switch for three years, I’ve seen dozens of new players make avoidable mistakes that cost them money or get them penalized in ranked play. Most of these mistakes come from not understanding how Nintendo’s subscription rules apply to third-party games like Apex, so it’s worth going over the most common ones to save you the hassle.
The first big mistake is buying an individual subscription when you live with other people who play Switch online. The family plan costs less than twice the price of an individual plan, and it covers up to 8 separate Nintendo accounts, even if they’re on different consoles. If you split the cost with just one other person, you’re already saving money compared to buying individual plans. Another common mistake is forgetting to turn off auto-renewal when you take a break from Apex. I once got charged for three months of subscription I didn’t use because I stopped playing during a slow season and forgot to cancel my plan.
Plenty of players also waste money on the Nintendo Online Expansion Pack thinking they need it to play Apex, but that’s not true at all. The expansion pack only adds access to retro N64 and SNES games, Animal Crossing DLC, and other Nintendo-exclusive perks that have no impact on Apex play. You never need to pay for the higher-priced Nintendo Online Expansion Pack to play any Apex Legends mode on Switch.
One last mistake to avoid: relying on a free trial for a ranked grind. Free trials usually expire after 7 or 14 days, and if your trial runs out mid-ranked match, you’ll get kicked out immediately. That counts as a match abandon, which lowers your rank score and can even get you a temporary ranked ban if it happens too often.
Tips to Save Money on Nintendo Online for Apex Legends Play
If you play Apex regularly on Switch, you don’t have to pay full price for a Nintendo Online subscription. There are a handful of easy ways to cut costs without giving up access to multiplayer modes, and most of them only take a few minutes to set up.
The first tip is to wait for annual subscription sales. Nintendo runs 20-30% off discounts on 12-month Nintendo Online subscriptions 2-3 times a year, usually around Black Friday, Christmas, and the start of the summer gaming season. If you can wait to buy or renew your subscription until one of these sales, you can save enough money to buy a couple of Apex skin packs for free. Family plans are the most cost-effective option for anyone who plays Apex with 2 or more other Switch owning friends. Even if you don’t live in the same household, you can add up to 8 accounts to a single family plan, bringing the annual cost down to less than $5 per person, which is cheaper than a single month of an individual plan.
You can also find free trial codes all over the place if you keep an eye out. Many physical Switch game copies come with a 7 or 14-day free Nintendo Online trial, and new Switch hardware bundles almost always include a 30-day trial. You don’t even have to buy the game or console yourself – ask friends who recently bought a Switch if they have unused trial codes, most people don’t use them if they already have a subscription.
If you only play Apex for a couple of months out of the year during big seasons, you can also save money by buying monthly subscriptions instead of an annual plan. Just remember to turn off auto-renewal every time you sign up, so you don’t get charged for months you don’t play.
At the end of the day, the answer to does apex legends require nintendo online depends entirely on what you want to do in the game. If you just want to practice your aim in the firing range or test out new legend abilities before you commit to playing online, you don’t need to pay a cent. If you want to drop into matches with your friends, climb the ranked ladder, or earn battle pass rewards, you will need an active base Nintendo Online subscription. Don’t waste money on the expansion pack if you only play Apex, and take advantage of family plans or seasonal sales to keep your costs low if you play regularly.