Apex Legends Cross-play – Should you start playing cross-platform matches?

In early October 2020, Apex Legends added a cross-play function to its game. Available on multiple platforms like PlayStation, Xbox and PC, this function allowed players of the game to crossplay with others on another platform.

Released as part of the Aftermarket Collection Event, the cross-play beta was added. Developers cited it as one of the most requested features for the game, and thus offered the ability to beta test the function. Immediately, all functionality was made available, while the devs collected data, checked out feedback and so on.

Should you starting playing cross-platform matches? And will crossplay make better at Apex Legends?

© Apex Legends

How does the Apex Legends cross-play feature work?

The most important thing to know is that while you’ll be able to team up with your friends on different platforms, you’ll still only be matchmaking with either console players or PC players. So, if you go into matchmaking on PC, you’ll be paired with other PC players, and if you play on Xbox One, you could get paired with other Xbox as well as PS4 players.

You can’t cross-play for matches in general, but if you have a specific friend playing on another platform, you can link up with them and play together. Any console player that joins a PC player’s lobby will find themselves matched against other computer players – be aware of this as you may struggle more against those using a keyboard instead of a controller.

Tip: At the time of writing this, cross-progression was NOT an available feature. Unfortunately you won’t be able to progress your account on different platforms. According to the Apex devs, you won’t be for some time, as the feature is still in development.

How to play cross-play on Apex Legends

In order to play with someone, you’ll need to add them as a friend. You can now do this regardless of their platform. Go to your Friends menu and click on ‘Find a Friend’. Search for their username and then add them as a friend.

They will get a notification and be prompted to accept, reject, or block the request. When they have accepted, you can check the Friends menu again and find them there. There will also be an icon indicating what platform they are on. A little PC means, well, a PC-player, whereas a gamepad means a console player. If you are on Xbox One and your friend is too, the symbol is the Xbox logo – PlayStation players will have the gamepad, and PC players the little computer.

When you have your friends sorted, it’s time to invite them to play. Once again, use the Friends menu to invite players – just like you used to do before the update. All lobby players, be they console or PC, will be able to use the in-game voice chat, so you’ll be able to communicate with them, no problem.

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Should you play Apex Legends in crossplay?

There are many pros in trying out cross-play in your Apex Legends playtime. If you are not a PC player, you can benefit greatly from matching up with PC only players. The highest skill ceiling for Apex Legends is found in PC match-making. If you are seeking to increase your own aim and skill matching against PC players is beneficial.

In turn, once aim assist gets boosted and buffed eventually for other platforms, PC players can seek to match up with their console counterparts to try battle an aim assisted cheater like opponent in some of their matches.

Finally, If your queue times are getting increasingly high, Apex Legends crossplay is designed to alleviate some that.

How to disable the cross-play setting

As a default, the setting is enabled. If you do not team up with any friends, it probably won’t bother you, but you can still turn it off if you want. To do so, go to the Apex Legends settings and switch the “Cross Platform Play (BETA)” option to disabled.

If you are trying to use it and it is not working, check you didn’t accidentally disable the feature on your or your friend’s platform.

Tip: By disabling this setting, you may strongly increase your matchmaking times. You’ll ONLY be put into matches with other players that disabled the setting. In other words, leaving the setting enabled and just not using it is probably the better choice!

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