The frosty festivities have arrived in the Outlands. Respawn Entertainment has unleashed the Winter Wipeout mid-season update for Apex Legends, injecting a fresh dose of adrenaline and seasonal cheer into the popular battle royale. The update, which went live on the afternoon of 6th January 2026, delivers significant gameplay changes, a brand-new mobility item, and sweeping overhauls for three key Legends.
Hoverboards Headline Wild New Winter Gameplay
The standout feature of the Winter Wipeout event is the introduction of the Hoverboard. This exciting new item occupies the Survival Slot and is automatically replenished upon respawn within the event's Wildcard mode. When deployed, it provides a substantial speed boost and unlocks a suite of advanced movement techniques, including a double jump, wall riding, and the ability to surf on zip-lines. Players can even earn EVO points by performing aerial tricks, adding a strategic layer to the high-speed antics.
The hoverboard isn't the only twist for the limited-time mode. Three new Wildcards alter the rules of engagement: Brain Freeze makes headshots deal extra damage and slow enemies; Love Potion shares the effects of any consumable with nearby teammates; and Protective Launch grants a small shield regeneration after using any jump pad.
Major Legend Reworks: Octane, Crypto & Newcastle Evolve
This patch brings substantial changes to three Legends, aimed at shaking up the meta. Octane receives the most comprehensive update, transforming him into a greater risk-reward powerhouse. His passive Swift Mend now heals faster the lower his health is. A new Stim Surge mechanic activates if he uses his Stim twice consecutively, granting him Fortified damage reduction and allowing his healing to continue through incoming damage for six seconds.
Newcastle has been refined to make him more appealing in public matches without breaking his competitive utility. His base kit now includes previous upgrade speed bonuses, freeing up space for two powerful new abilities: Ready to Rumble automatically reloads his weapons when he revives a teammate, and Defensive Line makes his Tactical and Revive shields knock back enemies once.
Crypto gets a suite of quality-of-life buffs to reduce his downtime and increase his stealth. He now cloaks while piloting his drone, and the drone's launch and retrieval times have been drastically reduced. New upgrades allow him to Trailblaze to allies and gain Ultimate charge from scanning beacons and enemies.
Weapon Tweaks, Map Adjustments & Festive Cosmetics
The balance changes extend to the arsenal. Key assault rifles the R-301 Carbine and VK-47 Flatline have seen their damage per shot increased to 15 and 20 respectively. The Prowler SMG's burst delay has been reduced, and its Selectfire damage buffed. The Rampage LMG's 'Revved' state now lasts longer.
Olympus receives targeted quality-of-life improvements, including performance optimisations, additional cover and loot at Dockyard and Somers University, and new ziplines. The Ranked drop zone for Turbine has been moved to land players inside the Point of Interest.
Finally, the event is packed with winter-themed cosmetic items to unlock through event packs or purchase directly from the in-game shop, ensuring players can battle in style. The Winter Wipeout event runs until 9th February 2026.
