Wondering if you can download and play Apex Legends for free on your gaming PC? As a long-time battle royale enthusiast, let me walk you through everything you need to know about playing this massively popular game on desktop.
The short answer is – yes, Apex Legends is 100% free on PC! Read on as I‘ll provide plenty of details to help you get started.
What is Apex Legends Exactly?
For anyone new to Apex Legends, it‘s a free-to-play battle royale shooter game developed by Respawn Entertainment and published by Electronic Arts.
Here‘s a quick rundown of what makes Apex Legends so special:
Launched in February 2019 and gained over 100 million players in just one year
Features 20 three-person squads fighting to be the last team standing
Let‘s you choose from a diverse roster of Legends each with unique abilities
Emphasizes teamwork with innovative features like respawning dead squadmates
Polished gameplay, great optimization, and frequent new content
Supported on PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and PC platforms
In many ways, Apex Legends represents the current pinnacle of the battle royale genre. It expertly combines elements from popular titles like Fortnite, Overwatch, and Call of Duty while bringing its own signature flair.
Millions of players around the world have fallen in love with Apex Legends thanks to its tactical team-based combat, unique Legends, and phenomenal game feel.
Is Apex Legends Free to Download on PC?
I‘m happy to confirm that Apex Legends is completely free to download and play on PC, just like it is on other platforms.
There are no hidden fees, subscriptions, or strings attached. You can install and enjoy Apex Legends on your Windows gaming PC without spending a penny.
The developers at Respawn Entertainment are committed to keeping Apex Legends free in order to build the largest player base possible. They make money through optional in-game cosmetic purchases which I‘ll cover a bit later.
So if you‘ve been wanting to try out this award-winning battle royale, your PC can provide the perfect opportunity to dive in for zero cost.
Where Can I Get Apex Legends for PC?
There are two ways to download Apex Legends on desktop:
1. EA App
The EA App is Electronic Arts‘ own platform for distributing games on PC, similar to Steam or Epic Games Store.
To get Apex Legends through EA App, simply:
- Download and install the EA App
- Search for "Apex Legends"
- Click the Apex Legends tile and hit "Try Now" or "Download"
- Once installed, launch the game through the App
As Apex Legends is published by EA, their own app tends to be the most direct and hassle-free option.
2. Steam
In recent years, Apex Legends has also become available on Steam. The steps for installing it through Steam are:
- Open up the Steam client
- Search for "Apex Legends" in the store search bar
- Select Apex Legends and click "Play Game"
- Let Steam install Apex Legends
- Launch the game from your Steam library
Steam does have a larger user base than EA which provides additional social features. But both options work great.
Apex Legends System Requirements for PC
Before installing Apex Legends, make sure your PC meets the minimum system requirements:
Minimum Requirements:
- CPU: Intel Core i3-6300 or AMD FX-4350
- RAM: 6GB
- GPU: Nvidia GeForce GT 640 or AMD Radeon HD 7730
- GPU RAM: 1GB
- Storage: At least 22GB free space
Recommended Requirements:
- CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K or AMD FX-6350
- RAM: 8GB
- GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 970 or AMD Radeon R9 290
- GPU RAM: 8GB
- Storage: At least 30GB free space
The storage requirement is quite hefty at over 20GB. So be sure to clear up enough disk space on your PC before installing.
Meeting the recommended specs ensures you can run Apex Legends smoothly at 60fps which is key for competitive play. But the game is well-optimized enough that even lower end rigs can work fine with reduced resolution and graphics settings.
Optimizing Apex Legends Performance on PC
If you‘re struggling to run Apex Legends smoothly on your PC, there are a few tweaks you can try:
Lower the graphics settings steadily until you hit 60fps. Start with everything on low, then increase selectively.
Disable VSync which caps your frame rate and causes stuttering.
Close any background programs or streams using CPU/GPU resources while playing.
Update your graphics drivers to the newest available version. Outdated drivers cripple game performance.
Clean up and defrag your storage drives to free up extra space.
Beyond software optimizations, upgrading aging PC hardware like your graphics card, CPU, RAM etc. is key to running modern games at high settings and frame rates.
Trust me, a proper high refresh rate gaming monitor also makes a huge difference!Smo how to delete Ubuntu from Windows 10,
Which is Better for Apex Legends: Mouse & Keyboard vs. Controller?
A major benefit of playing Apex Legends on PC is getting to choose between mouse & keyboard or controller input. But which option works best?
Mouse and Keyboard benefits:
Allows faster and more precise aiming
Makes it easier to flick shots and snap to targets
Frees up your movement fingers for better WASD control
The default input method of choice for most serious PC gamers
Controller benefits:
More ergonomic and comfortable for long gaming sessions
Analog stick movement feels smoother than WASD
Strong aim assist on Apex Legends helps tracking close targets
Familiar for players switching over from console versions
So while mouse & keyboard offer superior accuracy, some players still prefer using a controller. It comes down to personal preference and what you‘re most accustomed to using.
My advice is to try both inputs in Apex Legends for a while and see which you perform better with. Many players do best with keyboard for movement and mouse for aiming.
How Does Apex Legends Make Money When It‘s Free?
You might be wondering how Apex Legends can afford constant development and updates when it‘s free to play. The answer is:
Optional in-game microtransactions
These include:
Apex Packs – Loot boxes containing cosmetic items and crafting metal currency
Direct purchase of skins, animations, emotes in the store
Battle Pass – Premium track of 100 unlockable cosmetic rewards per season
Apex Legends borrows the successful monetization models of other free games like Fortnite, Multiversus, and Genshin Impact.
The key thing to note is that all purchases are cosmetic-only with zero effect on gameplay or power. You can compete at the highest level without spending a dime.
Is Apex Legends Beginner Friendly?
With advanced movement, a diverse Legend roster, and lethal competition, Apex Legends has a fairly steep learning curve for total newcomers to the battle royale genre.
Players looking for a more relaxed casual experience may want to try games like Fortnite or Fall Guys instead.
However, Respawn does an amazing job of smoothly onboarding brand new players through:
- Intuitive tutorial teaching the basics
- Legends and weapons slowly introduced over early levels
- Playable without needing deep mechanical skills
Sticking through the initial rough matches pays off tremendously in the long run. Once you grasp the fundamentals, Apex Legends provides endless depth to master.
My advice is to play the tutorial, start experimenting with different Legends and weapons in live matches, and don‘t get discouraged by early struggles. Finding teammates around your skill level is also key to learning together.
Trust me, few games can match the rush of your first Apex Legends win!
Can My PC Actually Run Apex Legends?
Let‘s do a quick rundown of how well Apex Legends can potentially run on different PC setups:
Minimum specs: Delivers 720p at 30fps. Playable experience on integrated graphics.
Recommended specs: Enables 1080p at a smooth 60fps. Requires a decent GPU like GTX 970.
High-end specs: For maximum settings at 1440p/4K and 144+ fps. Needs an RTX 3070 or better.
Laptop specs: Must be a gaming laptop with dedicated GPU to run well. Mobile RTX 3060 recommended.
The key takeaway is that while low spec computers can technically run Apex Legends, you need a mid-range or better gaming PC to really get the best experience.
High frame rates and higher resolutions make a huge difference in fast-paced competitive titles like Apex Legends. An ideal setup would include a 144Hz+ gaming monitor paired with a powerful GPU.
Final Verdict: Should You Play Apex Legends on PC?
If you made it this far, hopefully I‘ve provided enough details to give you a clear picture of what to expect with Apex Legends on desktop.
To summarize:
Apex Legends is 100% free to download and play on PC
Grab it through the EA App or Steam
Make sure your PC meets minimum specs
Be ready for a steep initial learning curve
Mouse & keyboard provide the best controls
Constant new content and improvements
So if you‘re looking for a smooth, polished battle royale with tactical team-based combat, I can‘t recommend Apex Legends enough, especially on PC.
Just temper initial expectations, stick with it through early struggles, find teammates to learn with, and this will likely become your new gaming obsession.
Thanks for reading this massive guide! Let me know if you have any other questions about getting started with Apex Legends. Now get out there, choose your Legend, and battle your way to victory. See you in King‘s Canyon!