The new Apex Legends season, Season 26 titled "Showdown," was released on August 5, 2025. The release time was 10 a.m. PDT (Pacific Daylight Time) in the western U.S., 1 p.m. EDT in the eastern U.S., and corresponding times in other time zones worldwide. This season introduced several new updates including a permanent new game mode called Wildcard, a major ranked system overhaul, buffs to some legends like Caustic and Bangalore, the introduction of the RE-45 as an elite weapon, and various other gameplay improvements.