Does Changing Your PSN Affect Apex Legends? The Ultimate Guide

Yes, changing your PlayStation Network (PSN) ID can affect Apex Legends, but the impact is generally minimal and manageable. While Respawn Entertainment has worked to minimize issues, some players might experience minor disruptions. The good news is that major progress loss is rare. Let’s dive deep into the specifics, potential issues, and how to navigate these changes to keep your Apex experience smooth.

Understanding the Nuances of PSN ID Changes and Apex Legends

The relationship between your PSN ID and Apex Legends is important because it determines how the game recognizes you, tracks your progress, and connects you with other players. When you change your PSN ID, you’re essentially altering a key identifier the game uses. While most modern games are designed to handle these changes gracefully, legacy issues can still arise. The core thing to remember is that Apex Legends primarily ties your game progress to your EA account, which is then linked to your PSN. This is why the impact of changing your PSN is usually minor.

Potential Impacts of Changing Your PSN ID on Apex Legends

While major data loss is unlikely, here are the potential issues you might encounter after changing your PSN ID:

• Previous Online ID Visibility: Your old PSN ID might still be visible to other players in certain areas of Apex Legends for a short time. This is usually temporary and resolves itself as the game’s servers update.
• Cosmetic Glitches: In rare cases, cosmetic items (skins, banners, etc.) might temporarily disappear or revert to default appearances. This is often a visual glitch that is usually fixed by restarting the game or console.
• Stat Tracking Discrepancies: Some older games might have issues accurately tracking stats or displaying leaderboard information after a PSN ID change. Although Apex Legends is actively updated, this remains a small possibility.
• Social Features Issues: You might temporarily experience problems with friend lists or other social features within Apex Legends.
• Minor Game Setting Resets: Some in-game settings may reset to default values, requiring you to reconfigure them.

These issues are typically minor and can often be resolved by simply restarting the game or your console. If you encounter more persistent problems, contacting PlayStation Support is always a good idea.

What Remains Unaffected by Your PSN ID Change

Here are some things that are almost guaranteed to remain unaffected:

• Game Progress: Your overall player level, Legend unlocks, and accumulated experience points are tied to your EA account, not directly to your PSN ID.
• Purchased Content: Any Apex Coins you’ve purchased, as well as skins, Legends, and other items acquired with those coins, will remain available to you.
• Apex Packs: The Apex Packs that you’ve earned or purchased will still be present in your inventory.
• Legend Stats: Individual Legend stats are typically linked to your EA account and should not be affected.
• Battle Pass Progress: Your Battle Pass progress is also tied to your EA account and will remain intact.

Ensuring a Smooth Transition

To minimize potential issues when changing your PSN ID and playing Apex Legends:

• Restart Your Console: After changing your PSN ID, completely restart your PlayStation console. This helps ensure that the changes are properly registered.
• Restart Apex Legends: After restarting your console, launch Apex Legends again. This allows the game to refresh its connection to your updated PSN ID.
• Check Your Settings: After launching the game, take a quick look at your settings to make sure everything is configured as you prefer.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Will I lose my skins if I change my PSN name?

No, you should not lose your skins. Skins and other cosmetic items are tied to your EA account, which is linked to your PSN. Changing your PSN name should not affect your access to purchased or earned skins. If you encounter any cosmetic glitches, restart your game or console.

2. How much does it cost to change my PSN name?

Your first PSN name change is free. Subsequent changes cost $9.99 USD / CAD. However, PlayStation Plus subscribers get a discounted rate of $4.99 USD / CAD for each change after the first.

3. Can I change my child’s PSN name?

No, online IDs cannot be changed for child accounts. This is a restriction implemented by Sony for safety and parental control reasons.

4. What happens to my old PSN name when I change it?

Your old PSN name is no longer actively used. However, it may be visible to you and other players in some games for a short time after the change. It cannot be claimed by another user.

5. How many times can I change my PSN name?

You can change your online ID as many times as you want. The first change is free, and there is a charge for each subsequent change.

6. Will changing my PSN name affect GTA Online?

According to Rockstar Games, after changing your PlayStation Network Online ID, your previous Online ID will be shown to members of your Crew until you sign in to GTA Online and play. There are no other issues associated with changing your Online ID in Grand Theft Auto Online.

7. What words are not allowed in PSN names?

Your PSN name needs to start with a letter, and the only permitted special characters are underscores and hyphens. In addition, words and terms deemed offensive may not be allowed — your PlayStation Network name is publicly visible, so you should try to avoid anything that could cause offense to others anyway.

8. Can I have 2 PSN accounts with the same email?

No, you cannot use the same email address for multiple PSN accounts. Each account requires a unique email address for verification and communication purposes.

9. Can I delete my PSN account and create a new one with the same email?

Yes, you can, but it’s a two-step process. First, change the email address associated with your old PSN account to a different email. This frees up your original email address, allowing you to use it when creating a new PSN account. Remember, deleting your old account means losing access to all associated purchases and data.

10. How do I change my PlayStation email without losing everything?

To change your PlayStation email without losing anything:

1. Go to Settings > Users and Accounts > Account.
2. Select Sign-in ID (Email address).
3. Enter your new email address and click Confirm. You may need to re-enter your password.
4. You will receive an email to your new email address asking you to verify your new sign-in ID. Click the Verify Now button in this email.

11. What happens if I change my PSN region?

Changing your PSN region can be tricky. You’ll need to create a new PSN account for the new region. This means you might end up using two accounts: one for local games and another to keep using the same Apex account, as Apex is tied to your EA account.

12. Is my Apex account transferable?

Cross-progression is coming to Apex Legends for PC, PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo Switch. This means, for example, if you have an account on Xbox or PlayStation, you will be able to use this same account on the PC version, and vice-versa.

13. Will I lose my progress if I change my PSN?

You might lose some progress within games, including game saved data, leaderboard data, and progress toward Trophies. Parts of your game and applications may not function properly both online and offline. However, in the case of Apex Legends, the chances of losing progress are minimal as the game is linked to your EA account.

14. Will changing my PSN affect my games?

You might lose access to content (including paid-for content) that you’ve acquired for those games, including content like add-ons and virtual currency. You might lose your progress within those games, including game saved data, leaderboard data, and progress toward trophies. However, these issues are game-specific, and for Apex Legends, the likelihood of these issues is low.

15. Does Apex support online ID change?

If you’re using a PC, you can change your Apex name using Steam or the Origin client. For console players, you’ll need to change your gamertag or online ID. Unfortunately, Nintendo Switch players won’t be able to change names without creating a new account entirely.

The Verdict: Change with Confidence

While there are minor potential issues associated with changing your PSN ID and playing Apex Legends, the risk of significant data loss is low. By following the recommendations above, you can confidently change your PSN ID and continue enjoying Apex Legends without major disruptions. The key is to ensure your EA account is securely linked to your PSN and to restart your console and game after making the change.

Always remember that gaming is more than just competition; it’s about community, learning, and growth. For insights into the broader impact of gaming on education and society, visit the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org.