First it was H1Z1 vs PUBG, then it was PUBG vs Fortnite, and now it’s Apex Legends vs Fortnite! The war of the battle royale games has rolled over into 2019, and there’s no sign of it stopping. In fact, the genre is looking like it’s going to be even bigger this year, with Battlefield 5‘s battle royale “Firestorm” mode fast approaching. If you’re a big battle royale fan, then all of this competition is good news for you. The more competition, the more incentive for the competitors to do everything they can to stay on top. In the case of Fortnite, which is the current most popular battle royale title across a huge number of platforms, we could see a push to innovate even further, as the game moves into Season 8.
With all of that said, Apex Legends is the new kid on the block, offering a refreshing take on the genre. It’s taken the gaming community by storm, but is Apex Legends better than Fortnite, the current battle royale king? Or is it too early to say?
Apex Legends vs Fortnite | Is Apex Legends better than Fortnite?
Answers to “Is Apex Legends better than Fortnite?” are going to differ from person to person. Objectively, they are both polished battle royale games that run well. In our experience, Apex Legends on PC tends to crash more than Fortnite, but it’s reasonably stable considering it’s just been released and the skyrocketing player count. What’s more, its recent launch also means that it offers a fresh experience for battle royale players to enjoy. While Fortnite rapidly evolves with weekly updates, those patches aren’t as significant as an entirely new game.
Building makes up a large part of the gameplay in Fortnite. The “Fort” part of the name directly references this, and it’s one of the mechanics that gives the game a truly unique feel. Players can build their own structures to protect themselves, or to get into a better position to take out enemies. This is both good and bad, as building quickly and accurately requires a high level of skill, which some players may hate. If you like building, then you probably think Fortnite is better than Apex Legends. If you don’t like building, then you probably think Apex Legends is better than Fortnite.
The first-person gameplay in Apex Legends also contrasts to the third-person gameplay of Fortnite. First-person is arguably more immersive and players have to physically peek to be able to see enemies. Third-person allows players to hide and peek over cover without putting themselves at risk. This is, again, personal preference, but may be a deciding factor which game is considered better.
Another big factor is the frequency of updates. Fortnite is known for its regular patches, with Epic Games rolling out new updates every week. In addition to the new content updates and fixes, the different Fortnite Seasons each offer their own themes, complete with game-changing events and new items. At the time of writing, Apex Legends has only been out for a week, and so it’s too early to say whether it will match Fortnite when it comes to post-launch support.
Apex Legends vs Fortnite | Will Apex Legends kill Fortnite?
While Apex Legends is certainly off to a flying start, it’s really too early to say whether Respawn Entertainment’s battle royale effort has made a dent against the titan that is Fortnite. Yes, there are a lot of people playing Apex Legends right now, but how long will that last?
As mentioned above, time will tell whether Apex Legends is able to keep players entertained post-launch content and support. Fortnite has already proven to be a rapidly evolving game, and there’s no doubt in our mind that Epic Games is putting together a plan to directly oppose Apex Legends. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Fortnite incorporate modes where building is less of a focus, and we definitely expect to see more hero characters with unique abilities.
However, even if Apex Legends does somehow end up dominating Fortnite on PC, PS4, and Xbox One, there are still other platforms where Epic Games’ battle royale phenomenon reigns supreme. While it’s possible that Apex Legends will expand to include Nintendo Switch, Android, and iPhone, the developers have yet to reveal any plans or details.
Apex Legends Roster
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Welcome to the Frontier | The Legends of Apex Legends
In the years following the corporate wars depicted in Titanfall, a new breed of legend is born. The wastes of the Frontier see a bloody conflict brew. These are the legendary warriors of Apex Legends the new battle royale smash hit by Respawn Entertainment and Electronic Arts. -
Bangalore
Anita Williams served in the IMC Armed Forces alongside her entire family, so you know that she's ready for a fight. Her tactical Smoke Launcher and Double Time sprinting ability give her an edge against unprepared foes. When it's charged, her sky cracking Rolling Thunder airstrike finishes the job. -
Bloodhound
A game hunter of the Outlands, the mysterious Bloodhound is secretive to the core. They can identify nearby enemies with the Eye of the Allfather and track them using footprints and bloodstains. Their Beast of the Hunt gives them enhanced speed to close the distance on their prey. -
Caustic
A self-righteous former scientist with delusions of grandeur, Alexander Nox battles uses toxic bombs of his own design. He can see through his traps and launch clusters of them with his ultimate. If Caustic doesn't want you in a room, you're not getting in. -
Gibralter
The son of two search and rescue workers, Makoa Gibraltar excels at extracting teammates from dangerous situations. He shields himself when aiming down sights and can throw a bubble shield to protect everyone else. When needed, he has a Defensive Bombardment to root out camping foes. -
Lifeline
The child of wealthy war profiteers, Ajay Che enlisted in the Frontier Corps to protect communities in need. Her healing drone offers a health buff to teammates, and she can revive them faster if they're downed. Her ultimate is a Care Package filled with high-quality defensive loot. -
Mirage
The youngest of four brothers, Elliott Witt was always looking to be the center of attention. Utilizing Holo-Pilot tech, the Legend known as Mirage makes countless clone distractions to confuse his foes on the battlefield. Whether he's knocked down or storming a stronghold, he'll be flanked by five other versions of himself. It's quite the ego boost. -
Pathfinder
An abandoned robot without a home, Pathfinder fights in the Apex Games in order to hopefully draw the attention of his creator. Designed with scouting in mind, he's always friendly. He can zip around the arena with a grappling hook and create ziplines across large gaps for his teammates. -
Wraith
After awakening in a detention facility with no memory of her past, Wraith began to hear voices in her head. They drove her to madness, but not before teaching her a few tricks about her latent interdimensional abilities. The voices warn her of nearby enemies, and she can pop in and out of battle to avoid incoming fire. -
Time Keeps On Tickin'
Because of the passage of time, the legends of Apex Legends have a different skillset. They're not Titan pilots, so they don't get to call in massive mechs. Also, they can't wallrun, although they do have a pretty impressive downhill slide. These movement quirks affect the entire roster, but who knows what could change down the line.
