The original Nintendo Switch version of Apex Legends is no longer playable, marking the end of the battle royale's five-year run on the platform.

Originally released in 2019, Apex Legends quickly established itself as one of the biggest names in the battle royale genre. Respawn Entertainment's hero shooter attracted millions of players and cemented its place alongside genre giants like Fortnite and PUBG. Given its popularity, EA expanded the game to as many platforms as possible, including Nintendo's hybrid console.

However, when Apex Legends arrived on the Nintendo Switch in 2021, the port struggled to match the experience offered on PC, PlayStation, and Xbox. Performance issues and technical compromises made it the weakest version of the game, and now, five years after its debut, support for the original Switch edition has officially come to an end.

The shutdown was announced several months in advance, giving players ample time to prepare. Still, the closure marks the end of an era for those who primarily played on the original Switch. Fortunately, Apex Legends remains fully available on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC, while Nintendo fans can continue playing on newer hardware.

EA launched a native Nintendo Switch 2 version of Apex Legends in August 2025, delivering major improvements in performance and visual quality over the original release. Players who have upgraded to Nintendo's latest console can continue playing without interruption.

That said, millions of original Switch owners have yet to make the jump to the Switch 2. For those players, the shutdown removes their only way to access Apex Legends on Nintendo hardware, leaving a platform upgrade—or a move to another system—as the only options for continuing to play.

With the original Switch now showing its age, the decision isn't particularly surprising. As developers continue pushing free-to-play multiplayer games forward with new content and technical improvements, supporting aging hardware becomes increasingly difficult. Other live-service titles could eventually follow a similar path. Games like Overwatch 2 and Fortnite already have native Switch 2 versions, making it possible that support for the original Switch could end in the future as developers prioritize newer hardware.

For anyone considering an upgrade, it's worth keeping Nintendo's upcoming price change in mind. Beginning September 1, the Nintendo Switch 2 will retail for $499.99, reflecting a $50 price increase over its current MSRP. Players planning to upgrade before the higher price takes effect have only a limited window left to do so.