Ethan Crossfield 
Apex Legends has officially shut down on the original Nintendo Switch, ending support for the platform roughly five years after the battle royale arrived there. The game remains playable on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC, while Nintendo players who move to Switch 2 can continue playing through the newer version.
What happened to Apex Legends on Switch?
EA’s hero shooter became one of the biggest games in the battle royale market after its 2019 launch, joining Fortnite and PUBG among the genre’s major long-term successes. That popularity led EA to expand the game beyond PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One, including a port for Nintendo’s original Switch.
The Switch release struggled compared with the other versions. Its technical quality was noticeably weaker, and the platform’s aging hardware made it difficult to deliver the same experience. The shutdown was announced months in advance, giving players time to plan, but the original Switch version is now no longer playable.
Why the shutdown matters for Nintendo players
The decision affects a large group of Switch owners who have not upgraded to Nintendo’s newer hardware. For those players, Apex Legends is no longer available on their existing console, even though the game itself continues operating elsewhere.
There is a direct Nintendo alternative. An Apex Legends version for Switch 2 launched in August 2025 with significant improvements over the original Switch release. That keeps the game available on a Nintendo console, but only for players who own the newer system. Players who want to remain with the original hardware must instead move to another supported platform.
What to watch next for Apex Legends and Switch
Apex Legends’ departure could become an important example for other free-to-play multiplayer games still running on the original Switch. The source notes that Overwatch and Fortnite could eventually face similar questions, particularly as native Switch 2 versions become available. Maintaining support for older hardware can limit how far these games evolve, even when abandoning it cuts off part of the audience.
Players considering an upgrade also face a higher cost. Starting September 1, Switch 2 consoles are set to reach $499.99, a $50 increase from the stated current price. That makes the timing of the Apex Legends shutdown especially significant for fans deciding whether to stay within Nintendo’s ecosystem.
Key takeaways for Apex Legends players
- The original Nintendo Switch version of Apex Legends is permanently unavailable.
- PlayStation, Xbox, and PC versions remain playable without interruption.
- A Switch 2 version launched in August 2025 with major improvements over the original port.
- Players without Switch 2 hardware will need another supported platform to keep playing.
- Switch 2 consoles are set to cost $499.99 from September 1, according to the source.
Expert View
This shutdown is a disappointing outcome for original Switch owners, but it also reflects the pressure live-service games face when older hardware becomes a constraint. Apex Legends can now target stronger systems without preserving a version that already lagged behind its peers. The difficult part is the transition: Nintendo players are not simply losing a game, but being pushed toward a costly hardware upgrade or a different platform.
