Apex Legends is one of the biggest free-to-play Battle Royale games in the industry. With it being popular on on many platforms including PC and consoles, using a cloud based platform to play the game is now ideal to got on and play quickly without installs.
We have covered Apex Legends on various cloud gaming platforms. We’ll go through all of the best platforms to play Apex Legends on cloud gaming platforms.
Apex Legends on GeForce Now
Apex Legends and Fortnite are available to play on GeForce Now. So, we got to try Apex Legends at 4k with the RTX 3080 tier on the SHIELD TV Pro. Ready up, and let’s drop in.
GeForce Now Graphics
Apex Legends isn’t a super demanding game. Why? The game runs on Valve’s Source engine. Yes, the same engine Half-Life 2 and CS:GO are built on released in 2004. Granted, it’s a heavily modified version of the engine but still. To be honest, I would have never known. This is most likely the reason Apex Legends plays so smoothly on GeForce Now or on any platform for that matter.
If we check the graphic settings, you’ll see that everything is maxed out. Not only that but I get around 140 fps even on 4k. So those playing on the desktop at 1440p can expect similar to even better results. Let’s take it to Firing Range for a quick test.
As you can see, performance is stellar. Response time is right on the money due to their wonderful infrastructure. There is a bit of FPS drop during gameplay but too much.
GeForce Now Gameplay
Apex Legends is definitely a game of its own as I do need to put in some work to up my game but, it’s always better with friends. I squaded up with two others to see how Apex Legends handles on GeForce Now. Let me tell you, playing at 4K over 100 fps is the way to play. Sure, my performance wasn’t stellar but that’s not GeForce Now’s fault in the slightest.
As I mentioned, I am playing on my NVIDIA SHIELD TV Pro since this is the only way to get 4K resolution through GeForce Now. I’m not playing on a TV, but I’m playing on a 4K monitor and let me tell you, the picture is so crystal clear. I was very impressed on well I can see targets in long distances. It’s almost clear as day without super long range scopes.
I was mainly playing on an Xbox controller but playing on mouse and keyboard will do just fine as well. Lag was just not an issue due to being connected through Ethernet with a low latency connection and to the Apex server.
Overall, GeForce Now is wonderful platform to play Apex Legends on. I definitely need some practice but if you are looking to play high-end without paying for a crazy high-end PC, get the RTX 3080 tier for $200 a year and the SHIELD TV Pro for $200 bucks, and you’ll have high-end performance without the high-end price.
Apex Legends on Boosteroid
Boosteroid is a Pickup n’ Play Cloud Gaming service, more specifically an Own It, Play It platform. This means that Boosteroid offers a library of games to choose from; but you must own the game before getting access. Check out our articles and videos about Getting Started with Boosteroid to learn more. Boosteroid makes launching Apex Legends very simple. Users have the option to play through a supported internet browser or by downloading the desktop app.
To play, log into Boosteroid, search for Apex Legends, select the game, and then click play to launch your session. Your game will pop up on a separate screen. You will have to log into the account in which your game is attached, so have your login info ready. Apex Legends is free to play on Steam and Origin, so select your preferred platform.
Boosteroid Graphics
I’m running my session on my 2k monitor, however Boosteroid streams games at a maximum resolution of 1080p, so no 4K gameplay for now. There are rumors of possible 4K capabilities in the future, but 1080p works just fine. We can increase the quality of graphics using the style options at the bottom of the graphics menu.
The platform does generally run a frame rate of 60fps, although this does depend on your location. I’m located in Ohio, USA, and up until recently Boosteroid servers were only located in Europe, so frame rate quality would vary. However, as of Spring 2022, US servers have officially launched, so game quality should increase overtime.
When I activated Steam’s built-in FPS counter, the game never dipped below 58 frames, and the picture was clear and smooth, with little to no latency. The closer we are to the servers, usually means a higher quality picture, and as I mentioned previously, the US server launches will make this more consistent.
Boosteroid Gameplay
My session was nearly flawless. Moving around the map was seamless and I had no issue transitioning between aiming down my sights and hipfire. The game never skipped or lagged, and the only problems that came were from my lack of skill. Anyone, who is new to Apex Legends must practice, no matter what platform you are playing on.
The game isn’t a simple point and shoot title. You have to understand the mechanics of the game. This includes learning Legends, equipment, abilities, weapons, and a number of other features to stand a slim chance in multiplayer. You’ll learn this immediately in gunfights, and the game does not make it easy to get revived.
It’s a good idea to spend more time in the Practice Range, than you’d expect. Getting very familiar with at least 1 or 2 Legends will make your gaming experience that much better. You’ll have a firm grasp of the playstyle and won’t be easy pickings for more experienced players.
Apex Legends performed exceedingly well on Boosteroid. Those who have strong connections should have no issues playing. Take advantage of Boosteroid’s built-in connection’s test to get a general idea of how well your session will run. If you are still dealing with problems, understand that the US server launch is a huge step in the right direction for Boosteroid, and game quality should increase soon, as more continue to open.
Apex Legends on Shadow Tech
Shadows hardware is aging now but Apex Legends is built on an engine is almost 20 years old. Sure, it’s a modified engine but can you perform well enough on Shadow to handle being competitive while in game? Let’s see what Shadow can do.
Shadow Graphics
I’m going start right out the gate with checking the graphics settings. Since I’m playing on a 4k monitor, it defaults to 4k resolution with everything on high. I’m not expecting too much out of these settings. We’ll see what happens. I’ll also have the Origin fps counter in the top left corner for reference.
With these settings, gameplay is better than expected. I get about 35-55 fps and I would say it’s more of an average of 45 that you will get the majority of the time. Sure, it’s not 60 fps but it’s playable. To be honest, it’s performing better than I was expecting with Shadows outdated hardware.
When I go to 1440p, I get over 60 as a constant. At 1080p, that number is easily in the hundreds. What’s also great is that Shadow doesn’t limit bitrate like some other platforms do. I have a gigabit connection, so I’ve got my bitrate cranked up to 70 mbps. This makes for a nice clear picture.
Shadow Gameplay
My Shadow machine got moved from Chicago to New York to DC but that hasn’t hindered performance. I have decent latency to my machine and the response is great. Mouse and keyboard lag is generally nonexistent. Yep, engaging and dispatching enemies is totally possible. The bad gameplay is totally on me. We are getting there though.
So if you were wondering if Shadow is a suitable platform to play Apex Legends with, I think you have your answer. With the amount of native platforms Shadow has available, feel free to enjoy playing on various devices including iPhone and Android which includes the Shield TV Pro.
Apex Legends on AirGPU
Is AirGPU a good and cheap platform to handle the competitiveness of Apex Legends on? Or do you have to spend a fortune on a high-end tier to play the way I need to? Let’s give it a go.
AirGPU runs on the AWS infrastructure and the download was decently fast with upwards of a 120 mbps download rate. It was done in about 10+ minutes.
Apex Legends was released in 2019 but don’t let that release date fool you. This game was built on a modified version of the Source engine which was released in 2004. I am going to be using the AirGPU V520-M tier which rates just slightly higher in performance than Shadow. Is this suitable for good gameplay? Let’s see what the game sets the graphic settings at to start with.
AirGPU Graphics
Thankfully Apex Legends runs pretty well on default with the settings set to max. I’m initially running this on my 4K monitor at 4k resolution. Maybe this tier is powerful enough to handle this. I’ll have the Origin in game fps counter up the top left corner for reference as I test gameplay in the Target Range.
FYI this tier is not suited for 4K gameplay. I’m able to run the game at 4k at 30-45 frames per second depending on where you are located on the map. That’s not completely terrible for 4k but the quality degrades due to the bitrate limitation. This tier limits bitrate to 20 mbps so quality is poor even if you are able to handle the bump in the resolution.
I will change my resolution to 1440p to see if this is a better option. And yes, it is. The clarity is much better and my fps hits 60. It’s not perfect but I would recommend these settings for optimal gameplay at this tier. Let’s try this in some matches.
With the resolution reduced to 1440p, I now get a constant 60 fps in game – no matter what. Every match I was in was smooth and consistent. Even though the quality isn’t as it should be, it’s much better than playing at 4k.
AirGPU Gameplay
Input lag is nonexistent due to my server being in Columbus, Ohio and me being a couple of hours away in Cleveland. Engaging in gunfights and melee brawls is generally pretty easy. Feel free to wind up that fist and give your opponent the ol’ slapparoo. I managed to get a couple of kills but I still need work.
Overall, the V520-M tier of AirGPU is slightly better than Shadow but that 20 mbps bitrate might get you. If you are interested in getting some AirGPU credit, we have a 10% credit coupon code to help you in that endeavor.
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