Apex Legends is coming to Android and iOS

Mobile battle royale shooters like Fortnite and PUBG Mobile now have another major rival.  Respawn and EA have introduced Apex Legends Mobile, a phone-friendly version of the Titanfall-based last-one-standing game for Android and iOS.

The developer was shy on full details of how Apex Legends Mobile would differ from its console and PC counterparts. However, Respawn’s Chad Grenier promised specially designed touchscreen controls and “thoughtful optimizations” for smaller screens. It would be new, yet “true to the original,” he said.

The game will remain free-to-play, with no paid items that provide an edge over rival players. You can expect some unique Battle Passes, cosmetics and unlockables. Don’t expect to compete against other platforms using Apex Legends Mobile, though. As it’s designed specifically for mobile, you won’t find cross-play with console or PC players.

Grenier also noted that Respawn had an in-house team working on Apex Legends Mobile in collaboration with “other partners.” This isn’t a completely outsourced project like some adaptations, in other words.

See also: The 10 best battle royale games like PUBG Mobile or Fortnite on Android

You might not have to wait long to play, depending on where you live. Regional betas start in late April, when “a few thousand” Android players in India and the Philippines will get early access to Apex Legends Mobile. More regions, more players and iOS users will have access throughout 2021.

This is a potentially huge launch for the mobile world. Apex Legends pioneered a few now-common features in battle royale games (such as reviving dead teammates), and it has enjoyed steady growth that helped it reach 100 million total players earlier in April — comfortably above Call of Duty: Warzone‘s 75 million. The launch of Apex Legends Mobile comes right when there’s plenty of interest, and could help it become an even bigger title by reaching people who previously couldn’t play.