Apex Legends

Apex Legends is a free-to-play online shooter video game playable on Windows, PlayStation, Xbox and Switch.

It is a battle royale game, meaning players compete against each other to be the last player standing. Usually, players work with others as part of a team, although solo modes do exist.

All Apex Legends accounts are public and there is no option to set them to private, so all players can see each other’s p

Apex Legends has a PEGI 16 rating. This is due to its depictions of violence towards human characters. However, there is no age verification when creating an account.

Apex coins

This is the name for in-game currency that can be purchased using real money.

Battle Pass

A rewards system that encourages players to continue playing the game in return for rewards such as cosmetic items. Premium tiers of the Battle Pass can be purchased using Apex coins.

Chat

Apex Legends has both text and voice chat features to allow players to contact each other.

Legends

Legends are the unique characters users play as. There are various Legends to choose from, each with their own unique abilities.

Matchmaking

Being paired randomly with 1 or 2 players to form a squad.

Ping system

Players can highlight locations, enemies, weapons, and useful items for their teammates using the ping system, so that they don’t have to use voice communication.

Camping

The tactic of hiding a character in an advantageous static position, usually to avoid being ‘killed’. This type of gameplay is contentious in a shooter game like Apex Legends. Some players view it as cheating, which can lead to abuse of the player through in-game chat.

Finisher

Animated executions of enemy players after they have been knocked down.

FPS

First person shooter, a game played from the perspective of the player character.

Frag

To kill a character within a game.

Noob

A person new to a game or who appears to lack skill in the game, often used negatively.

POV

Point of view, perspective from which a game is played, usually either first or third person.

Pub

Short for ‘public match’. This is the default game mode on Apex Legends.

Queuing

Waiting to join a game, either alone or with 1 or 2 friends to form a squad.

Ranked

Short for ‘ranked match’. This game mode allows players to earn ‘ranked points’ and level up their player ranking. This gives them exclusive rewards.

Respawn

A playable character regenerating after being killed in a game and reappearing.

Solo Queuing

Choosing to join a game alone rather than as part of a two or three-person squad.

Spawn

A playable character appearing in the game world.

Spawn point

A place in the in-game world where characters appear by spawning or respawning.

Social connection

Apex Legends has a chat filter, allowing players to game with and talk to their friends even when they are not physically in the same location. With cross-platform capabilities, friends can connect in the game even if they use different consoles.

Graphic content

By default, Apex Legends is played from the character’s perspective (called a first-person view). This tends to create a more realistic and immersive experience. However this immersive experience can include violence and blood:

• in-game ‘kills’ produce graphic animated blood splatter, which might appear at distance or immediately adjacent to the player’s point of view

• incapacitated enemy characters can be ‘killed’ by often brutal ‘finishers’

If your child plays Apex Legends, you should have a conversation with them about the content they are exposed to while playing . Ask about how the violence makes them feel and call out any instances of glamorised violence. Make it clear that they can come to you for support if something they see while playing the game makes them upset.

Contact with other players

Apex Legends features voice and text chat between players. Users can play against and communicate with players of different ages from across the world.

The interactive nature of the game means that your child could be exposed to offensive language or verbal abuse. Players can also make their own profile names. This means your child may come across offensive, derogatory or discriminatory language in these names.

You can take steps to reduce the risk of contact with other players.

Turn off voice chat

In the game’s settings, players can disable voice chat. This will prevent your child from hearing other players talking and possibly using inappropriate language. Your child will still be able to communicate with their teammates by marking enemies and locations with the ping system, so disabling voice chat should not impact their performance.

Use private squads

Encourage your child to create private squads with friends they know and trust in real life, rather than joining a team with strangers via matchmaking. This lessens their contact with strangers who might cause harm.

Explore muting and reporting tools

Teaching your child to use the muting and reporting tools will help them prevent contact with players and can make the game safer for everyone.

Overspending

Apex Legends features microtransactions in the form of in-game purchases. Apex Coins are bought with real-money and then traded in-game to purchase Apex Packs. Apex Coins are loot boxes which often promise players a random chance of receiving a rare or hard-to-get item. The random chance associated with loot boxes can encourage gambling behaviours.

The following steps can help your child manage their spending.

Talk about spending

Discuss the value of money with your child to help them understand that money spent on in-game microtransactions is still real money. Compare the money they spend on the game to things they could buy in the real world for the same amount to help them understand the value.

Set controls

On gaming devices, you can set controls to limit spending, so parental permission is required before any transactions are made.

Excessive screen time

Apex Legends is a fast-paced game and it can be difficult for young people to stop playing. The Battle Pass system also encourages users to continue playing so that they can receive better rewards.

You can help balance your child’s screen time with these actions.

Use screen time limits

Gaming devices allow you to set daily screen time limits. Look at the device your child uses to play Apex Legends and set the built-in controls.

Set boundaries

Agree on boundaries with your child about when and how they play the game.

If your child plays Apex Legends, these settings can help them stay safe.

To turn off voice chat:

• Go to the ‘Settings’ menu.

• Go to the ‘Gameplay’ tab and scroll to ‘Accessibility'.

• Next to ‘Disable Voice Chat’, select ‘Off’.

Manage privacy

Apex Legends does not have in-game parental controls Users should ensure their real name is not used on their profile.

Removing name from profile

• On your child’s account select the ‘Privacy and settings’ option.

• Uncheck the box marked ‘Show my real name on my profile’.

Play in solo mode

• In the lobby, before searching for a match, look for the checkbox that states ‘Fill matchmaking’.

• This will put players in a solo queue and prevent them being put on a team with strangers.

Play Apex Legends with friends

• Go to ‘Your friends page’ via the lobby to view your child’s list of friends that play Apex Legends.

• On the ‘Friends page’ you will be able to see which friends are currently playing Apex Legends.

• Highlight them to choose between ‘Inviting them to your party’ or ‘Joining their party’.

• Successfully joining or inviting a player will show the lobby with your child and their friends. They will then be able to matchmake and start matches with friends in their ‘Squad’.

Explore muting and reporting tools

Report a user in-game

• While in a match, select the ‘Warning’ symbol in the bottom-left corner of the screen.

• Choose which player you want to report under ‘Report player’.

• Select a ‘Report reason’ category then use the arrow symbol to choose the subcategories for the report.

• Add any additional notes to the text box and select ‘Report’.

Report a user from the main menu

• Select the avatar in the top-left corner and choose ‘History’.

• Find the match you want to report.

• Select the ‘Warning’ symbol in the bottom-left corner of the screen.

• Choose which player you want to report under ‘Report player’.

• Select a ‘Report reason’ category then use the arrow symbol to choose the subcategories for the report.

• Add any additional notes to the text box and select ‘Report’.

Mute a user

• Open the inventory during a match.

• Proceed to ‘Settings’.

• Select the ‘Squad’ tab from the top.

• Select the speaker icon under a player to mute voice, text or ping.