Apex Legends: Marked is the Season 30 update, and EA’s full patch notes say it drops on August 4, 2026. The update brings Bloodhound’s rework, a major World’s Edge refresh, server stability work, Corrupted Attachments, streamlined loot, energy weapon changes, and buffs for Loba and Rampart.

The separate Nintendo Switch support notice also uses August 4, 2026 as the cutoff for the original Nintendo Switch version. Those two events are related to the same launch window, but they answer different questions: one is the Season 30 update, and the other is the end of original Switch support.

Confirmed at a glance

Detail Confirmed information
Update name Apex Legends: Marked
Season Season 30
Marked release date August 4, 2026
Bloodhound Full rework confirmed
World’s Edge Major map update confirmed
Server stability Season 30 server improvements confirmed
Loot changes Corrupted Attachments and streamlined looting confirmed
Energy weapons Reworked as part of the update
Legend buffs Loba and Rampart buffs confirmed
Nintendo Switch Original Switch access ends August 4, 2026
Nintendo Switch 2 Supported going forward

August 4 patch notes update

EA has now published the full Marked patch notes. The most important change from the earlier preview is that the official patch notes give August 4, 2026 as the launch date and add more context around server stability, matchmaking test follow-up, map design goals, balance changes, and bug fixes.

For players, the practical read is simple:

  • Marked is no longer just a preview page or trailer topic.
  • The full patch notes are the source to use for balance, loot, and bug-fix details.
  • EA says more communication about Season 29 matchmaking tests is still coming later.
  • Server stability improvements are part of the Season 30 launch, but individual players may notice different results by region and mode.

If you are checking a build, a creator video, or a social post, compare it against EA’s full patch notes before treating a claim as current.

What Apex Legends: Marked is

Marked is a full season update built around a stronger Bloodhound, a refreshed World’s Edge, and a new loot philosophy. The changes affect how teams track enemies, choose drop points, build weapons, and move between fights.

The 2026 roadmap already pointed in this direction. EA said it would bring a Season 30 loot overhaul and a World’s Edge update later in the year. Marked is the concrete version of that plan, with named changes instead of roadmap language.

Before acting on exact balance claims, compare them with the official update and use Game Patch Notes Explained to separate confirmed changes from clips, rumors, and early reactions.

What this means for players

The short version is simple. If you main Bloodhound, you are getting a new kit identity. If you main a team that rotates through World’s Edge from muscle memory, your drop routes and mid-game paths need a reset. If you care about loot quality, Corrupted Attachments and the looting overhaul will change how fast you come online and how much control you have over your build. If you play Loba or Rampart, the update gives both Legends more room to matter. If you are still on the original Nintendo Switch, your hardware choice now has a hard end date.

Here is what each confirmed change is likely to mean in a match.

Bloodhound’s rework

EA says Bloodhound’s kit has been completely overhauled. The new direction is still tracker focused, but it pushes harder into a hunter fantasy rather than a simple scan-and-push loop.

Confirmed Bloodhound changes include:

  • The passive now makes enemies leave a glowing trail as they move.
  • White Ravens have improved range and can be activated by a quick glance.
  • The tactical adds additional snapshot scans after the initial scan finishes.
  • The ultimate deploys a device that cloaks all Legends who enter the area.

That is a large identity change. Bloodhound is no longer just a scan Legend with a strong fight-start button. The rework is built to reward better tracking, more aggressive reads, and cleaner team pressure. If you use Bloodhound, expect to spend more time reading movement and less time thinking of the kit as a single on-off scan cycle.

For opponents, the practical takeaway is even more important. A Bloodhound team can now build pressure before the actual push begins. Trails, extra scans, and cloak-based zone control mean that poor repositioning is easier to punish. If you stay static after a scan or keep rotating through open space, you give Bloodhound more value than the old kit did.

In plain Apex terms, Bloodhound is moving closer to a true pursuit legend. The update favors teams that want to force fights, follow damaged squads, and keep a target under constant pressure until the engagement ends.

What Bloodhound means in practice

Bloodhound players should think about three habits after Marked launches.

First, look for movement patterns instead of relying on scan pings. The new passive rewards pursuit and chase paths, so strong Bloodhound players will watch where enemies are going, not only where they were.

Second, treat the ultimate as a space control tool. A cloaking device changes how both teams value a doorway, rooftop, choke point, or crate stack. It can start a duel and control where that duel happens.

Third, remember that opponents will start learning the new counterplay quickly. Teams will spread, break line of sight, and force you to spend the reworked kit efficiently. If you overchase, the kit can still punish you. The difference is that Marked gives Bloodhound more ways to make the chase worthwhile.

World’s Edge update

World’s Edge is getting a major update rather than a cosmetic refresh. EA says the map now has old-god aesthetics, new and updated POIs, and aurora borealis lighting in the sky. The article also names the new and returning points of interest that matter most for competitive and casual drop planning.

Confirmed World’s Edge changes include:

  • Bloodhound’s tribe takes over Climatizer with East Village and a massive Longhouse.
  • War Camp replaces Survey Camp.
  • Tree Settlement adds new vertical movement gameplay.
  • Sorting Factory returns.
  • Construction stacks return in Fragment.
  • Rampart gets new parking for Big Maude on top of Landslide.

That is enough to change the map without turning it into a different game. The core map is still World’s Edge, but the familiar logic of safe drops, hot drops, and rotation routes is no longer guaranteed to stay the same.

For players, the biggest meaning is timing. Old favorite landing spots are no longer safe because they are familiar. New sight lines, new cover, and new vertical paths mean the first week after launch will punish autopilot movement. If you usually rotate through World’s Edge on memory alone, Marked is the season where you will need to slow down and re-learn.

The return of Sorting Factory and Construction stacks is also important because returning locations do more than satisfy nostalgia. They pull pressure away from the same old Fragment-first habits and give lobbies new reasons to split up. That can create stronger early-game variety, but only if you are ready to adapt your squad’s landing choices.

What World’s Edge means in practice

For most Apex players, World’s Edge changes break down into three useful questions.

Where should you land? The answer is no longer based only on old comfort picks. If a new POI offers better cover, better vertical control, or better access to the next ring, it may become the smarter first stop.

How do you rotate? New and returned points of interest alter the usual movement patterns. Teams that used to hold one route may now need a second plan because the new terrain can make familiar exits less reliable.

What fights are worth taking? A map update changes more than drop zones. It changes how long a team can safely hold height, how easy it is to third-party a fight, and how much space a squad needs to reset. Expect some of your old “free” decisions to stop being free.

If you are returning after a break, spend your first sessions observing where teams naturally collide. That will tell you more than trying to memorize every changed building immediately.

Corrupted Attachments, energy weapons, and looting

Marked also changes the way guns feel before the first shot even lands. EA says Corrupted Attachments introduce power with a real tradeoff, energy weapons have been completely reworked, visible weapon stats now show how attachments affect performance, and looting has been streamlined.

Confirmed loot and weapon changes include:

  • Corrupted Attachments add new power with a tradeoff.
  • Energy weapons are completely reworked.
  • Visible weapon stats show how attachments change each weapon.
  • Support and Assault Bins are being removed.
  • Explosive Holds are being removed.
  • Loot bin resets are being removed.
  • Wildlife loot is being removed.
  • Other loot sources are being rebalanced.

That combination can change how quickly a squad gets ready to fight. Streamlined loot reduces the need to check every special container, while attachment tradeoffs make the first upgrade you find less likely to be an automatic choice.

The energy weapon rework deserves special attention because it affects both comfort and education. Apex players often build habits around ammo type, recoil patterns, and attachment tiers. When a weapon class is reworked, those habits can mislead you. Even if your favorite gun survives the update, the way you judge it may change.

Marked asks players to think more carefully about loadout choice. The old question was often, “Can I find the attachment I want?” The new question is, “What am I giving up to get this power?”

What the loot changes mean

The looting changes are easy to underestimate because they do not sound as dramatic as a legend rework. In play, though, they may be one of the biggest quality-of-life changes in the update.

Removing support bins, assault bins, explosive holds, loot bin resets, and wildlife loot means fewer special-case branches in a match. That can make the early game clearer and reduce the number of moments where a squad has to stop and ask where the “real” loot lives. Rebalancing the rest of the loot sources should make the whole system feel more intentional.

For players, this means you should not expect your favorite drop to behave exactly like it did before. Routes that were strong because of a single extra source may lose some value, while routes that are strong because of position, cover, or ring control may matter more.

Loba and Rampart buffs

Marked also gives Loba and Rampart new tools.

EA says Loba’s Black Market has a reduced cooldown timer and her tactical moves faster and covers more ground. Rampart can move faster while firing Sheila, and her Amped Walls build faster and take more damage.

Those are straightforward but meaningful buffs. Loba becomes better at keeping a squad supplied and helping a team recover after a fight. Faster tactical movement also gives her more freedom when a reset starts going wrong.

Rampart gets a different kind of improvement. Faster Sheila movement helps her support aggressive pushes instead of only sitting on defense. Stronger and faster Amped Walls make it easier for Rampart to set up a position without feeling like she needs too much time to become useful.

What this means in real matches is simple: both Legends should feel less awkward when the pace of the game gets faster. Loba gains better utility around supply and rotation. Rampart gains better tempo in fights where you need to establish control quickly. If you already like either Legend, Marked is a good reason to revisit the kit.

How to prepare before Season 30

You do not need a full rebuild plan to get ready for Marked, but a few habits will save time.

  1. Relearn your World’s Edge drop path. Do not assume your old landing spot still gives you the same cover, loot access, or rotate.
  2. Expect more Bloodhound picks while players test the rework. Trails, follow-up scans, and the new ultimate will change how teams read space and start fights.
  3. Look at your preferred loadouts with more skepticism. Corrupted Attachments and the energy weapon rework can change which guns feel strong early in the season.
  4. If you play Loba or Rampart, queue a few test games as soon as the season lands. Both kits are getting enough help that old muscle memory may not be enough.
  5. If you are on Nintendo Switch, decide whether you are moving to Switch 2 before the August 4 cutoff. Progress transfer depends on your EA account.

That last point is easy to miss if you only care about balance changes. If you want to keep playing on Nintendo hardware after August 4, the platform change is part of your preparation.

Nintendo Switch and Switch 2

EA says Season 29 is the final update for Apex Legends on Nintendo Switch. Starting August 4, 2026, the game will no longer be playable on the original Nintendo Switch. Future seasons continue on Nintendo Switch 2.

The same notice also confirms that until August 4, 2026, Switch players can keep playing, earning rewards, and using the game as usual. Beginning on that date, in-game premium currency can no longer be purchased on the original Switch, although existing balances can still be used before the cutoff. EA also says all progress, purchases, and earnings are tied to the player’s EA account, so cosmetics and Apex Coins carry over to Nintendo Switch 2.

That is the key migration rule: your account is the anchor, not the hardware. If you move from Switch to Switch 2, your progress and purchases should follow the account. If you stay on the original Switch, the game stops being playable on August 4.

For players who care about safe migration, the practical move is to confirm the EA account link before the season lands, use any existing Switch balance before the cutoff if needed, and make the hardware change on your own schedule instead of waiting for the cutoff day.

What is not confirmed yet

There are still some details that can vary after launch. Do not fill those gaps with guesses.

  • No complete performance or match outcome testing has been provided in this article.
  • No additional platform changes beyond Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 have been confirmed here.
  • No guarantee that server-stability improvements will feel identical in every mode, region, or connection environment.
  • No final public conclusion from EA’s Season 29 matchmaking tests has been published yet.

That is why this guide sticks to named changes and player impact. If a clip, thread, or video claims hidden nerfs or undocumented behavior, wait for another EA post before treating it as settled.

Official sources

Use these primary sources for the confirmed details:

The trailer thumbnail used on this page comes from Apex Legends YouTube.

FAQ

When does Apex Legends: Marked start?

EA’s full patch notes say Marked drops on August 4, 2026. Check your platform listing for the local unlock time.

Is Marked the Season 30 update?

Yes. EA’s roadmap and the Marked update page both place these changes in Season 30.

Are the full Marked patch notes out?

Yes. EA has published the Marked patch notes with the August 4 launch date, server notes, World’s Edge changes, loot changes, balance updates, and bug fixes.

What changed for Bloodhound?

Bloodhound gets a full rework with a glowing enemy trail, improved White Ravens, snapshot scans after the tactical scan, and a cloaking ultimate.

What changed on World’s Edge?

EA confirmed new and updated POIs, an aurora-lit presentation, the return of Sorting Factory and Construction stacks, and new placement for Big Maude.

What are Corrupted Attachments?

They are new attachments that add power with a tradeoff. EA also says the update reworks energy weapons and shows visible weapon stats so players can see how attachments change performance.

Did Loba and Rampart get buffs?

Yes. Loba’s Black Market and tactical were both improved, and Rampart gets faster Sheila movement plus stronger, faster Amped Walls.

Can I still play Apex Legends on the original Nintendo Switch?

Only until August 4, 2026. EA says the original Switch version will no longer be playable from that date.

Does my progress move to Switch 2?

Yes, according to EA. Progress, purchases, earnings, Apex Coins, and cosmetics are tied to the EA account and carry over to Nintendo Switch 2.