According to GameSpot, developer Respawn Entertainment announced it is shutting down the servers for Apex Legends on the Nintendo Switch. The upcoming Season 29 will be the final update, with the game becoming completely unplayable on the platform starting August 4, 2026, when Season 30 launches. Until then, players can continue normally. Any remaining in-game currency can be migrated to the Switch 2 version, and all gameplay progress, tied to EA accounts, will carry over. Respawn cited the goal of delivering a “high quality experience” and thanked the Nintendo community, directing them to the Switch 2 version.
Switch Apex Was Always a Compromise
Let’s be real, this isn’t a huge shock. The Switch port, which landed in 2021, was famously rough. GameSpot’s review calling it a “decent last resort” was being kind. It was a technical compromise from day one, struggling with performance and visual fidelity on the aging hardware. So Respawn pulling the plug feels less like an abandonment and more like finally retiring a product that was on life support. The timing is everything, though. They’re giving it a full season’s notice and a clean cutoff date over two years from now. That’s actually pretty respectful.
The Clear Push to Switch 2
Here’s the thing: this announcement is as much a promotion for the Switch 2 as it is a sunset for the old Switch. The statement from Respawn is dripping with it—thanking “Nintendo’s investment in the Nintendo Switch 2″ and calling it a “great handheld experience.” They’re not just ending support; they’re actively funneling that player base toward the new hardware. And it makes perfect business sense. Why spend resources propping up a struggling version when you can consolidate your audience on a platform that can actually run your game properly? It’s a clear signal that for live-service games, the Switch 2 is the only Nintendo platform that will matter moving forward.
Broader Context and Wildlight Drama
This news comes amid a weird period for Apex. It’s not about the game’s health, which seems steady, but around its creators. The article mentions that some key developers split off to form Wildlight, which just launched a shooter called Highguard. Even that had drama—its Steam page originally touted its lineage from Apex and Titanfall, a line that was quickly removed. It feels like the Apex universe is expanding and contracting at the same time. The core game is solidifying its future on modern platforms (like Switch 2), while the original creative energy is splintering off into new ventures. Makes you wonder about the long-term vision, doesn’t it?
What This Means for Players
Basically, if you’re a Switch-only Apex player, you have a choice to make before August 2026. You can migrate your account and any leftover coins to the Switch 2 version, or you can take your progress to another platform like PlayStation or Xbox. The EA account system makes that pretty painless. But the writing is on the wall for last-gen consoles in general. The PS4 and Xbox One versions are still kicking, but how much longer? This move establishes a precedent. When a platform can’t meet the technical bar for a constantly evolving game, it will get cut. The Switch 2 gets a stay of execution because it’s finally hardware that can compete. For everyone else, the clock is probably ticking.
