How to Play Apex Legends with Japanese Players — Complete Guide [2026]

Short answer: Yes — and it’s easier than you think. Switch your Data Center to Tokyo, enable crossplay, and use Gamee to instantly find Japanese Apex squads. This guide covers everything step by step.

Why Playing with Japanese Apex Players Is Worth It

Apex Legends is one of the most popular games in Japan — in fact, Japan generates the highest Apex Legends esports viewership worldwide, even surpassing the US. Japanese players bring a unique blend of skill, teamwork, and in-game etiquette that makes for a genuinely enjoyable experience.

Japan Is One of the Top Apex Markets in the World

Apex Legends topped the free-to-play PC and console charts in Japan for years running. The ALGS (Apex Legends Global Series) 2026 Championship saw Japanese-language streams reach roughly double the viewership of the official English broadcast. That’s how passionate Japan’s Apex community is.

Team-First Mentality

Japanese gaming culture is built around “kuuki wo yomu” — reading the atmosphere and acting for the good of the group. In Apex, this means Japanese players are typically better at rotating together, calling out positions, and not abandoning teammates mid-fight. Less tilting, more winning.

Unique Slang and Culture

The JP server even has its own culture. One example: “JF” (Just Fun) — a term unique to the Japanese Apex community used to signal a chill, low-pressure game. Learning these small things makes playing with Japanese teammates much smoother.

Step 1: Switch to the Tokyo Server

The first step to playing with Japanese players is switching your Data Center to Tokyo. Here’s how:

On PC (Steam / EA App)

1. Launch Apex Legends and stay on the main menu.
2. Click anywhere on the screen, then wait about 60 seconds without clicking.
3. Press Esc several times until you see a “Data Center” option appear in the lower-left corner.
4. Select Japan (Tokyo) from the server list.
5. Confirm and re-enter Data Center to apply the change.

On PlayStation / Xbox

1. Launch Apex Legends and load into the main menu.
2. Wait 1–2 minutes without pressing anything.
3. Look for the Data Center option in the bottom-left corner of the screen.
4. Select Japan (Tokyo).

Note: Some players have reported difficulty connecting to the Tokyo server with low ping from outside Japan. If you’re seeing high latency (150ms+), a VPN set to a Japanese endpoint can help stabilize the connection.

Step 2: Make Sure Crossplay Is Enabled

Apex Legends supports full crossplay across PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch. Crossplay is on by default, which means you can squad up with Japanese players regardless of what platform they’re on.

• PC players — Crossplay cannot be disabled. You’ll always match with console players if they have crossplay enabled.
• Console players — You can disable crossplay for console-only lobbies, but keep it on to reach more Japanese players (many play on PC).
• Mixed squads — If any player in your party is on PC, the whole squad queues into PC lobbies.

How to Add Japanese Friends via EA ID

To invite a specific Japanese player to your squad:

1. Open the Friends menu from the main lobby.
2. Select “Find Friend.”
3. Enter their EA Public ID exactly as it appears.
4. Send the friend request and wait for them to accept.

Once connected, you can invite them to your squad anytime. Voice chat works across all platforms, though many players prefer to use Discord for clearer audio quality.

Step 3: Find Japanese Apex Teammates with Gamee

The biggest challenge isn’t the server settings — it’s finding the right Japanese players to squad up with. That’s where Gamee comes in.

Gamee is Japan’s most popular app for finding gaming friends. A large number of Japanese Apex players use it actively, so it’s the most direct path to building your Japanese squad.

Why Use Gamee to Find Japanese Apex Players?

• Japan’s largest gaming friend community — Many Japanese Apex players are active on Gamee, making it easy to find the teammates you’re looking for.
• Filter by game, rank, and play style — Search for players at your rank (Bronze to Predator), set your preferred playtime, and specify whether you want a casual or competitive squad.
• User rating system — Check a player’s ratings before you squad up. Gamee’s rating system lets you see how previous teammates scored them.
• Safe and moderated — 24/7 moderation team, automatic banning of toxic or bad-faith users, and a trolling-free environment. Gamee is strictly for finding gaming friends — no dating, no drama.
• Completely free — Matching, chatting, voice calls, and playing together are all free. The only paid feature is an optional advanced search filter.
• 4.7 stars on app stores — With over 10,000 reviews, Gamee is consistently rated as Japan’s most trusted gaming friend app.

Even if your Japanese is limited, many Gamee users are open to overseas players. Post your skill level, playtime, and a note that you’re looking for Japanese teammates — and you’ll start getting matches.

Essential Japanese Phrases for Apex

You don’t need fluent Japanese to play with Japanese teammates. These phrases go a long way:

Japanese	Reading	Use It When…
よろしくお願いします	Yoroshiku onegaishimasu	Start of the match (shows respect)
ナイス！	Naisu!	Teammate gets a kill or revive
ドンマイ	Donmai	Teammate makes a mistake
お疲れ様	Otsukaresama	End of match (GG equivalent)
敵！右！	Teki! Migi!	Enemy spotted on the right
カバーして	Kabaa shite	Ask for cover
回復します	Kaifuku shimasu	Tell team you’re healing
行こう！	Ikou!	Let’s go! / Rotate now!

Saying “yoroshiku” at the match start is a small gesture that earns a lot of goodwill. Japanese players appreciate it when overseas players make the effort.

What’s New in Apex Season 28: Breach (2026)

If you’re jumping into Japanese lobbies right now, here’s what’s happening in Season 28 “Breach” (February 10 – March 10, 2026):

• Hardlight Mesh windows — New destructible energy windows that change positioning and rotation strategy across all maps. Shotguns and explosives are especially effective.
• Fuse rework — Fuse has been completely rebuilt as an area-control legend. His new ultimate, redesigned upgrades, and passive changes make him a strong pick for Japanese squad compositions.
• Ranked changes — Drop zones in Ranked have been removed. Everyone starts from the dropship, giving players full control over their landing spot.
• 7th Anniversary event — A free rewards track with community-created cosmetics is available during this season.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to speak Japanese?

Not necessarily, but it helps. Many Japanese Apex players are open to overseas teammates, especially if you’re friendly and communicate basic callouts. Using the phrases in the table above will make a big difference. For more intensive squad play, apps like Gamee let you specify language preferences when searching for teammates.

Will the Tokyo server have high ping for me?

It depends on your location. Players in East Asia (South Korea, Taiwan, Southeast Asia) generally get 30–80ms on the Tokyo server. Players from North America or Europe will experience 150ms or more. Using a VPN with a Japanese server can help, though results vary by provider.

Is Gamee available in English?

Gamee’s interface is primarily in Japanese, but navigation is straightforward even without Japanese knowledge. The app is free to download on iOS and Android.

Can I play ranked with Japanese players?

Yes. Apex Legends crossplay works in all modes including Ranked. Switch your Data Center to Tokyo, make sure crossplay is enabled, and you’ll be matchmade into the same ranked pool as Japanese players.

Start Your Japanese Apex Journey Today

Playing Apex Legends with Japanese players is one of the most rewarding experiences the game offers — better teamwork, a different strategic meta, and genuine cross-cultural connections.

Here’s your quick action plan:

1. Switch your Data Center to Tokyo (Settings → Data Center → Japan)
2. Enable crossplay to expand your matchmaking pool
3. Download Gamee and post a recruitment for Japanese Apex teammates
4. Learn 3–5 basic Japanese phrases and use them in-game
5. Enjoy a less toxic, more team-focused Apex experience