Is Apex Legends Cross-Platform? Crossplay and Progression
November 9, 2026 · 6 min read
On this page
- Which platforms have crossplay?
- How crossplay matchmaking works
- How to turn crossplay on or off
- How to add friends on other platforms
- Cross-progression: what carries over
- Apex Coins on Nintendo Switch 2
- Steam and the EA app
- Do you need PlayStation Plus or Xbox Game Pass?
- Frequently asked questions
- Is Apex Legends cross-platform between PC and PS5?
- Can Xbox and PlayStation players play Apex together?
- How do I turn off crossplay in Apex Legends?
- Does Apex Legends have cross-progression?
- Do Apex Coins transfer between platforms?
- Are Apex Legends ranked leaderboards cross-platform?
- Can I still play Apex Legends on the original Nintendo Switch?
Last checked: November 9, 2026.
Yes, Apex Legends is cross-platform. Players on PC, PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo Switch 2 can party up and play together, and cross-progression keeps one shared profile on your EA account. There's one catch: console players are matched with other console players, and PC players only end up in lobbies with console players when they party up together. Everything below comes from EA's official Apex Legends FAQ and news posts.
Which platforms have crossplay?
| Platform | Crossplay | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| PC (EA app, Steam, Epic Games Store) | Yes | PC lobbies are separate from console lobbies unless you party with console friends |
| PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 | Yes | Shares the console matchmaking pool |
| Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S | Yes | Xbox One also has a crossplay setting in the console's system settings |
| Nintendo Switch 2 | Yes | Shares the console matchmaking pool |
| Nintendo Switch (original) | No longer playable | Support ended on August 4, 2026 |
EA ended Apex Legends on the original Nintendo Switch after Season 29. Since August 4, 2026, the game no longer connects on that console, but it continues on Nintendo Switch 2.
How crossplay matchmaking works
Crossplay doesn't throw everyone into one big pool. EA's FAQ describes three cases:
- Console players on PlayStation, Xbox and Switch 2 are matched together.
- PC players are matched with other PC players.
- Mixed parties that include at least one PC player are sent to PC matches. This keeps PC players out of console lobbies while still letting console players team up with PC friends if they choose to.
So if you're on PS5 and queue with a friend on PC, expect to play against PC players in that session.
How to turn crossplay on or off
Crossplay is on by default. To change it on a console:
- Open the in-game Settings menu.
- Find Cross Platform Play and switch it off (or back on).
- On Xbox One, also check the console's own system settings. Xbox has its own crossplay setting outside the game, and it must be enabled for crossplay to work.
EA warns that turning crossplay off has a big downside. You'll only be matched with players on your own platform who have also turned it off, and that can make queue times very long. Unless you have a specific reason, leave it on.
How to add friends on other platforms
- Open the Friends menu in the lobby.
- Select Find Friend and search for the other player's username.
- Send a friend request. They can accept, reject or block it from a notification in their lobby.
- Once you're friends, invite them from the Friends menu. Cross-platform party invites show up in the lobby screen.
Your friends list shows an icon for each friend's platform. On a console, friends on your own platform show that console's icon, while players on the other console brand show a generic gamepad icon. Cross-platform parties can use in-game voice chat, so you don't need a third-party voice app.
Cross-progression: what carries over
Cross-progression means you have one Apex Legends profile, tied to your EA account, that works on every platform. When it launched in the Ignite season, the game merged players' existing profiles into one.
The game picked your primary profile automatically. It chose the platform where your account level was highest, and if two were tied, the one you played most recently. Since then, progress you make on any platform goes to that profile.
| What | Shared across platforms? |
|---|---|
| Account level and Battle Pass progress | Yes, through your single profile |
| Legends and cosmetics | Yes, except platform-exclusive items, which only work on their own platform |
| Unopened Apex Packs | Yes, they were merged into your profile |
| Crafting Metals and Legend Tokens | Yes |
| Apex Coins | Shared between PC, PlayStation and Xbox. Coins bought on Nintendo stay on Nintendo |
| Stats | Only the stats from your primary profile were kept |
| Ranked leaderboards | No, each platform has its own leaderboard |
A small number of stat-linked items, like some old Ranked badges and the numbers on Battle Pass badges, couldn't be merged from non-primary profiles. EA says those were lost in the merge.
Apex Coins on Nintendo Switch 2
Apex Coins from Nintendo platforms work differently. EA's FAQ says coins earned or bought on Switch can only be spent on Switch, although new non-exclusive items you buy with them can be used everywhere. After the original Switch shut down, EA said you can merge that wallet into Nintendo Switch 2, but not into PC, PlayStation or Xbox. If you're moving from Switch to Switch 2, sign in with the same EA account and your progress and purchases follow you.
EA also notes that in some regions, including Japan, local law requires digital currency to be used within 180 days of purchase.
Steam and the EA app
On PC, the Steam and EA app versions share the same account. If you switch from one to the other, your unlocks come with you. EA's FAQ says not to run the game on both at the same time with the same linked account, because that can cause progression problems.
Do you need PlayStation Plus or Xbox Game Pass?
Apex Legends is free to play on every platform. EA's FAQ says you don't need PlayStation Plus, Nintendo Switch Online or Xbox's paid online service to play. EA's general store text also says a platform subscription "may be required", so if your console asks for one, check your platform's current rules for free-to-play online games.
Want to know whether your PC can keep up with your friends? Check the Apex Legends PC system requirements. If you're just starting out together, our beginner guide covers the basics.
Frequently asked questions
Is Apex Legends cross-platform between PC and PS5?
Yes. A PC player and a PS5 player can party up and play together. When a party includes a PC player, the game puts it into PC matches, so the PS5 player will face PC opponents for that session.
Can Xbox and PlayStation players play Apex together?
Yes. Console players on Xbox, PlayStation and Nintendo Switch 2 share the same matchmaking pool, so they can party up and are matched against other console players. Add each other through Find Friend in the Friends menu.
How do I turn off crossplay in Apex Legends?
Open the in-game Settings menu and switch off Cross Platform Play. On Xbox One there is also a crossplay setting in the console's system settings that must stay enabled if you want crossplay. Expect much longer queues, because you'll only meet same-platform players who also turned crossplay off.
Does Apex Legends have cross-progression?
Yes. Your profile is tied to your EA account, so your level, Legends, cosmetics, Crafting Metals and Legend Tokens follow you to any platform. Platform-exclusive cosmetics only work on the platform they came from.
Do Apex Coins transfer between platforms?
Partly. Apex Coins are shared between PC, PlayStation and Xbox. Coins from Nintendo platforms stay on Nintendo, and EA says a Switch balance can move to Switch 2 but not to other platforms.
Are Apex Legends ranked leaderboards cross-platform?
No. EA's FAQ says Ranked leaderboards stay separate for each platform, even with cross-progression. Your leaderboard position is compared only with players on the same platform.
Can I still play Apex Legends on the original Nintendo Switch?
No. Apex Legends stopped working on the original Switch on August 4, 2026, after Season 29. It's still available on Nintendo Switch 2, and your progress and purchases carry over through your EA account.
