Apex Legends Nintendo Switch FPS and resolution details revealed

Calum Patterson
Apex Legends gameplay on Nintendo Switch

Apex Legends is finally available on Switch as of March 9 (or March 10, depending on your location), and the developers behind the Switch version, Panic Button, have confirmed some of the important technical details, like frame rate and resolution.

Panic Button also developed the Switch ports for other games like DOOM and Rocket League, always managing a stellar job.

But Apex Legends provides a uniquely challenging task, with the combination of fast, first-person gunplay alongside lots of abilities and three large maps.

Ensuring the experience is up to par is especially important because cross-play is enabled on Switch at launch, meaning players on the handheld device could play against players on console and PC.

Apex Legends FPS on Nintendo Switch

Speaking to Famitsu, Panic Button’s technical director, Andy Boggs, confirmed that Apex Legends will run at 30 frames per second (FPS) on Switch, both in handheld and docked modes.

Although 60FPS would have been much preferred for players, it, no doubt, would have proven very difficult to manage this, at least consistently, as action in the game can get intense. A locked 30FPS should provide a consistent frame rate, but when playing cross-play, could put you at a serious disadvantage against players on other platforms.

Apex Legends on Switch
Apex Legends on Switch will have all the features of other versions.

Apex Legends resolution on Nintendo Switch

The resolution actually changes depending on what mode you’re playing on. When in docked mode, you’ll play at 720p, but once you move to handheld, this will drop to 576p. Regardless of the resolution, the 30FPS limit will remain.

When playing in the handheld mode, Panic Button has developed a new UI that will be easier for players to see and use.

Apex Legends on Switch runs on the exact same engine as the other versions, and every feature available in the console and PC version is also on Switch. This includes all Legends, weapons, maps, skins, and clubs.

Apex Legends played on Nintendo Switch gameplay
You’ll be playing Apex Legends at 30 FPS on Switch.

Can you turn off cross-play?

Yes, just like the console versions of Apex, you can opt-out of cross-play on Nintendo Switch. Boggs explains: “If enabled, it will match with people who have cross-play enabled, and if disabled, it will only match with other Switch players.”

What about cross-progression?

Unfortunately, there’s still no news on cross-progression for Apex Legends. Respawn have said it’s a feature they want to have, but at the moment, it’s still a long way off. This is because Apex wasn’t built with cross-progression in mind, and adding it later is a challenge, according to Respawn.

We’ll keep you updated with any news about cross-progression in the future, but for now, you’ll have to start a new account on Nintendo Switch.

About The Author

Calum is Dexerto's Managing Editor, based in Scotland. Joining Dexerto in 2017, Calum has years of experience covering esports, gaming and online entertainment, and now leads the team to deliver the best coverage in these areas. An expert on all things Twitch and gaming influencers, he's also an expert in popular shooters like Apex Legends, CS2 and Call of Duty. You can contact Calum at calum.patterson@dexerto.com.