- Axle's passive loses 50% of its sliding lateral control, not 50% of all movement speed.
- Nitro Gate disables aim assist while its effect lasts for affected players.
- Kickstart's maximum chase drops from 10 seconds to 8 seconds, with separate knock-up reductions.
The October 1 update reduces Axle's slide control, disables aim assist during Nitro Gate's effect and shortens Kickstart's pursuit. Respawn says the update is live. The Steam post appeared early on October 2 in Europe, under an October 1 title. Steam patch notes, Respawn Official announcement
Axle changes at a glance
These are the Axle changes in the official October 1 patch notes. The notes give no real-world units for the push and knock-up values.
| Mechanic | Before → after |
|---|---|
| Drift sliding lateral control | Reduced by 50% |
| Nitro Gate sliding lateral control | Reduced by 25% |
| Nitro Gate aim assist | Disabled during the effect |
| Nitro Gate initial push speed | 700 → 650 |
| Kickstart immediate-lock-on knock-up | Significantly reduced; no percentage supplied |
| Kickstart maximum knock-up magnitude | 700 → 650 |
| Kickstart maximum chase duration | 10s → 8s |
Drift loses control through tight turns
Drift's 50% reduction affects sliding lateral control. Respawn says this makes it harder to maintain slide momentum through tight corners. It does not mean Axle runs or slides at half her previous speed.
Try your familiar tight turns again before relying on them in a fight. A wider line may help, but that is a suggestion to test, not a measured result from this update. Official Axle changes
Nitro Gate aim assist: who loses it and when
Players under Nitro Gate's effect lose aim assist while that effect lasts. The wording covers affected gate users, not only the Axle who placed it. It does not announce a permanent or game-wide removal of controller aim assist.
An opponent aiming at a gate user is not the same as a player under the gate's effect. The notes apply the restriction to the latter; they do not say that moving through a gate disables the aim assist of everyone shooting at you.
EA's May Overclocked notes describe it as usable by friendlies and enemies. That historical detail explains who may receive its effect; the launch tuning is not the current balance reference.
Nitro Gate users also lose 25% sliding lateral control, and initial push speed falls from 700 to 650. Keep those changes separate from Drift's 50% reduction. Respawn lists distinct adjustments, not a combined percentage you can calculate from the notes. Official Nitro Gate changes
Kickstart gets a shorter chase and lower knock-up
Respawn lists two separate knock-up adjustments:
- Immediate lock-on after deployment: significantly reduced knock-up, with no percentage stated.
- Maximum knock-up magnitude: reduced from 700 to 650.
The drone's maximum pursuit now lasts 8 seconds instead of 10. That is the chase duration, not the Ultimate cooldown. The update also specifies no Kickstart damage reduction. Official Kickstart changes
What to try before your next Axle push
Start with the actions the patch changes:
- Practise tight sliding turns and watch where you lose your intended line.
- Check tracking while Nitro Gate's effect is active.
- Recheck drone follow-ups with the shorter pursuit window.
- Try those adjustments in ordinary matches before trusting an old push.
These are practice suggestions based on the notes. We have not tested the patch in-game, and the notes alone do not establish Axle's place in the new meta.
Wildcard and Apex K.O.: the other October changes
Fighter's Defense damage reduction falls from 55% to 50%. Ryu, Chun-Li and Dhalsim can each store a maximum of two Ultimates instead of three. Akuma is not named in that storage adjustment. Ultimate meter gain rate and damage remain unchanged for it.
Passive Fight Gauge regeneration now works when both conditions hold: you are outside Fighter Form, and your gauge is below one pip. The notes give no regeneration rate or refill time, and they do not promise a full gauge refill.
Respawn says armed players need a better chance against charging fighters, consecutive fighter Ultimates left too little reaction time, and destroyed K.O. Trucks could leave token shortages. Separately, Respawn fixed unreliable use of Alter's Tactical and Ultimate near large moving structures. Official update
For kit and cosmetic background, the Street Fighter event guide covers those topics. Its launch-era gauge-extension advice predates later patches: the September 24 update removed damage extending Fighter Mode.
Frequently asked questions
Is this the October 1 or October 2 Apex update?
The update is titled October 1, 2026. This explainer is dated October 2, when the Steam mirror was published.
Do Drift's 50% and Nitro Gate's 25% reductions add together?
Do not add them into a 75% nerf. They describe separate lines in the notes, which supply no combined result.
Is Axle still worth playing?
The patch notes alone cannot settle that. Recheck turning, gate-assisted tracking and drone pursuit before deciding whether your usual approach still works.