“What engine does Apex Legends use?” is an understandable question to be asking, as the game looks like a cross between Titanfall and Borderlands, combining realistic textures with cartoony effects. It’s really quite unique in its presentation, enabling good-looking visuals without the need to trade-in performance. PC, PS4, and Xbox One are all treated to frame-rate targets of 60 FPS minimum, which is ideal for a fast-paced shooter like this. The mystery of the Apex Legends is really no mystery at all, as it uses the Source Engine, only tweaked and configured with the enhancements needed to make it competitive in 2019. Here’s what you need to know about the Apex Legends engine.
Does Apex Legends use the Source Engine?

You already have your answer! What engine does Apex Legends use? The Source Engine! However, as mentioned above, it has been configured in such a way that it looks unrecognizable to other games running on the same engine. Despite the aging Source Engine powering it, Apex Legends is still able to run at a more than acceptable level. Some stutter can rear its ugly head on occasion, but otherwise, it’s a mostly smooth experience on consoles and most gaming PC configurations.
With Apex Legends, it’s clear that the Source Engine is nearing its limit. There is only so far that the devs can push this engine before it has reached its maximum potential. What with battle royale being a demanding genre with large maps and vast player counts, the cracks are beginning to show.
Whereas other battle royale games have made use of the Unreal Engine, Respawn Interactive has stuck with Source, which was previously used to make Titanfall 2. Sometimes it’s easier to stick with a familiar tried-and-tested engine, than to try and build a new game in a brand new engine.
10 Weapons You Want in Apex Legends
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10 Weapons You Want in Apex Legends
One of the true rushes of the battle royale genre is not knowing what you'll be dealing with in any given round. Being able to succeed with any given setup early on separates the pros from the amateurs, but there are still some weapons you want to see in your first drop location. -
Devotion
The Devotion is a light machine gun that chews through Energy ammo with gusto. When you hold down the trigger, it starts to spin up, like a minigun in the hands of your favorite Heavy. The rate of fire continues to increase, making it a monster in certain situations. -
VK-47 Flatline
A close to mid-range assault rifle, the Flatline works best when you're aiming for the head. Dealing more damage than your standard AR thanks to the heavy rounds, you can switch between single shots or full auto. It only really loses its luster if you need to tag a sniper across a wide canyon, although that's still possible with the right scope. -
Havoc Rifle
The newest addition to Apex Legends, the Havoc rifle is a full auto assault rifle that uses Energy Ammo. It's also the first weapon to use two hop-ups to modify its potential. It can either be turbocharged to negate the gun's spin-up or get the Selectfire Reciever to select the hitscan beam fire mode. -
Kraber .50-cal Sniper
One of two Legendary weapon drops, the Kraber is a powerful sniper rifle that shoots off unique .50 caliber rounds. One of the weapons appearing from Titanfall 2, you can only grab this gun if you go after the supply drops and survive the hordes of other players with similar intentions. -
Mastiff Shotgun
The Mastiff Shotgun is the other Legendary weapon currently found in Apex Legends. It also can only be found from airdrops and it also has its own unique ammo that can't be replenished. You'll want to get up close and personal with the Mastiff, which has an amazingly narrow spread when you aim down its sights. -
Peacekeeper
If you don't want to chase Legendaries, the Peacekeeper is a good runner-up for "Best Shotgun." You can even get a similar aim down sights bonus with the Precision Choke add-on. Generally speaking, if you are going to charge into battle in Apex, you'll want one of these bad boys handy. -
Prowler Burst PDW
The Prowler is an SMG that fires in five round bursts. Due to its resemblance to a P90, you might wonder why it doesn't also fire fully automatic, and it does if you find a Selectfire Reciever. Either way, it's a great option if you need to get a lot of bullets into an opponent in a very short amount of time. -
M600 Spitfire
If you want to get a lot of bullets into an opponent over a long period of time, may we suggest the Spitfire? The premier light machine gun of Apex Legends, the Spitfire lives up to its name by spitting fire at a tremendously fast rate. If you can keep it fed with Heavy Rounds, it will keep your kill count looking very healthy. -
Triple Take
A sniper rifle that shoots Energy Ammo, the Triple Take brings its unique charge fire mechanics over from Titanfall 2's Double Take. It fires three projectiles at once at a full charge, letting you be a bit off with your aim when it comes to headshots. -
Wingman
Until they bring over the Smart Pistol as a Legendary Drop, the Wingman is the weapon to wield in your back pocket. A futuristic six-shooter revolver, the Wingman rewards skilled players with devastating headshot damage, improved even more by the Skullpiercer Rifling hop-up.
