Apex Legends

Our age is 13. Caution because of voice chat with random squadmates and Apex Packs.

Setup steps checked October 2026.

Apex Legends at a glance

Our age

13+

Our rating: Caution
Plays on: PlayStation, Xbox, Windows, Nintendo Switch
Setup: 6 stops, about 10 minutes

Do these three first

Add your teen to your EA FamilyEA appMenuSettingsFamily playtimeFamily managementAdd Teen AccountIn the US, accounts for players under 13 are child accounts, which have no online play in many games and can’t be added to a Family.
Turn off voice chat with strangersSettingsGameplayAccessibilityDisable Voice ChatSwitch voice chat off in the game and show your teen how to mute.
Check the spending limitEA AccountFamily ManagementManage teen accountTeen EA accounts have a $0 spending limit by default.

Set up Apex Legends parental controls through EA accounts and platform settings to manage this popular teen-rated battle royale game safely.

Talk about it

Do you usually play with friends or let the game fill your squad?Random squads mean voice chat with strangers, so the answer tells you which chat setting actually matters.
What happens on your team when a match goes badly?Opens a calm talk about blame and trash talk, and gets muting from the Squad tab agreed as the normal move.
What's in an Apex Pack, and how do you feel when you open one?Talking through the random rewards together makes the spending limit easier to agree on.
How many matches feels like enough on a school night?Matches are short, so a match count you agree on is often easier to stick to than a clock.

The full route: 6 stops, about 10 minutes

Add your teen to your EA Family
Set playtime guidelines
Turn off voice chat with strangers
Check the spending limit
Set your console's parental controls
Check that it works

Start the setupFree to follow. With Family, your progress is saved for each child.

The full guide

Apex Legends is a free-to-play battle royale game that's less graphic than Call of Duty but still involves shooting gameplay. It's popular with teens. EA's own controls cover spending and playtime for teen accounts, and chat is handled in the game and on the console.

Understanding Apex Legends

Gameplay

60 players in squads of 3
Land on map and find weapons/gear
Last squad standing wins
Unique "Legends" with special abilities
Fast-paced shooting gameplay

Why Teens Like It

Free to play
Team-based cooperation
Competitive ranking system
Regular new content
Popular on streaming platforms

Safety Considerations

Voice chat with random teammates
Online interactions with strangers
In-game purchases (cosmetics)
Shooting/combat gameplay
Competitive pressure

EA Account Parental Controls

Child and Teen Accounts

In the US, an EA account for someone under 13 is a child account: it needs a parent's consent, can't make purchases, and has no online play or social features in many games, so Apex may not be playable on it. From 13, it's a teen account, which can play online and chat with friends.

Add Your Teen to Your EA Family

You need your own adult EA account. In the EA app:

Menu (three lines)SettingsFamily playtimeFamily managementAdd Teen Account

Enter the email on your teen's EA account. They have 24 hours to accept the invite.

Playtime Guidelines

SettingsFamily playtimeManagePlaytime controls

Set guidelines for weekdays and weekends, or turn on Customize daily playtime limits for each day. EA lets you know when your teen gets close to or goes over the guideline. Once your teen is in your Family, a weekly Family Activity Report arrives by email with their playtime and purchases.

Chat is set on the console

EA says its games follow PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo Switch parental controls. If you turn off communication with other players in your console's settings, it is off in Apex too.

In-Game Settings

Voice Chat

SettingsGameplayAccessibilityDisable Voice Chat

Set Disable Voice Chat to On to switch voice chat off whenever your child joins a match. The Audio tab also has Incoming Voice Chat Volume if you'd rather turn it down.

Mute a Squadmate

During a match, open the menu, go to the Squad tab and select the speaker icon under a player. You won't hear them unless you unmute them.

Ping System

Apex has an excellent non-verbal communication system. Even with voice/text off, players can:

Ping locations
Call out enemies
Request items
Suggest movements

This makes playing without voice chat viable.

Spending Controls

In-Game Purchases

Apex Legends has:

Apex Coins (premium currency)
Battle Pass (950 Apex Coins, ~$10 — now sold per half-season "split," so two per season)
Legend skins
Weapon skins
Loot boxes (Apex Packs)

Preventing Purchases

EA teen account: Teen accounts have a spending limit of $0 by default. You can only raise it by adding your teen to your EA Family.
Platform level: On console, Apex Coins are bought through the PlayStation, Xbox or Nintendo store, so set spending limits there too.

To change your teen's EA limit:

EA AccountFamily ManagementManage teen account

There are separate limits for Games and expansions and In-game content (Apex Coins and other in-game purchases).

Loot Box Concerns

Apex Packs are loot boxes with randomized rewards. While cosmetic-only, they can encourage gambling-like behavior.

Platform Parental Controls

Use alongside EA controls:

PlayStation

Family ManagementCommunication

Restrict voice/text chat
Set spending limits

Xbox

Microsoft FamilyCommunication

Friends-only communication
Purchase approvals

Nintendo Switch

Use Parental Controls app
Set play time limits
Communication controls
Note: Apex ended service on the original Switch on August 4, 2026. It continues on Switch 2, and purchases and progress carried over through the EA account

PC (EA App or Steam)

Microsoft Family Safety for time limits
EA Family for playtime guidelines and spending limits
A child (under 13) EA account can't link to Steam, so it can't play EA games on Steam

Ranked Play

What Is It?

Competitive mode with ranks from Bronze to Predator. Tends to be more intense and toxic.

Considerations

Higher pressure/frustration
More competitive teammates
May affect mood if losing
Time-intensive to climb ranks

Consider limiting ranked play for younger teens.

Violence Considerations

How Violent Is It?

Shooting gameplay (guns, grenades)
Blood splatter when players are hit, but no gore
Close-up finishing moves on downed players
Colorful, stylized graphics
Less realistic than Call of Duty

Age Appropriateness

Generally appropriate for 13+
Less graphic than M-rated shooters
Combat is core gameplay

Playing with Friends

Squad Up

Apex is best with friends:

Add real-life friends on EA
Invite to squad
Use party chat (platform) instead of in-game
Enjoy cooperative gameplay

No Fill Option

LobbyFill Teammates

Disable to avoid random teammates (play with friends only, but fewer players).

Time Management

Addictive Elements

Battle Pass challenges
Limited-time events
Ranked seasons
Daily/weekly rewards

Setting Limits

Apex has no time limit of its own. Use the EA app's playtime guidelines (EA lets you know when your teen nears or passes them) or your console's parental controls for a hard limit.

Age-Based Recommendations