You remember the early days of Apex Legends. Back when the Wingman was a sniper and the Peacekeeper was floor loot. It was a chaotic, beautiful mess. During that first year, Respawn started a tradition that hasn't really slowed down: throwing freebies at PlayStation Plus subscribers. One of the most specific, oddly nostalgic drops was the PlayStation Plus Play Pack that featured that distinct blue-and-white R301 skin and the matching Gibraltar gear.
It wasn't legendary. It wasn't even "epic" in the purple sense. But the R301 PlayStation exclusive skin and Gibraltar pack became a weird badge of honor for people who were there at the jump.
What Actually Was the R301 PlayStation Exclusive Skin and Gibraltar Set?
Let’s get the facts straight because there’s a lot of confusion about which "blue skin" people are talking about. We are specifically looking at the 2019/2020 era PlayStation Plus Play Packs. These weren't skins you could buy with Apex Coins or Crafting Metals. You had to have an active PS Plus sub, go to the digital storefront, and manually claim the pack.
The skin for the R301—often referred to as the "Blue Fade" or part of the "Greatness" themed sets—featured a very specific shade of PlayStation blue mixed with white and black accents. It was clean. Minimalist. It didn't have the moving gears of an Iron Crown skin or the reactive elements of a Battle Pass Level 110 reward. It was just... solid.
Gibraltar got the same treatment. His skin, usually the "Bluepoint" or similar variations depending on which specific pack you grabbed, turned the Mako-loving tank into a walking Sony advertisement. It sounds tacky on paper. In-game? It actually looked sleek. It matched the aesthetic of the console perfectly.
Honestly, if you see someone rocking this set today, they’ve likely been playing since the game launched. It’s a "Day One" flex that doesn't cost a thousand dollars like a Wraith Heirloom.
Why Exclusive Skins Like This Matter in 2026
Gaming has changed. Everything is a live service now. We are currently in 2026, and the "Fear of Missing Out" (FOMO) has been dialed up to eleven. Back when this R301 skin dropped, we didn't realize how rare "limited time" actually meant.
💡 You might also like: Thinking game streaming: Why watching people solve puzzles is actually taking over Twitch
A lot of players ask: Can I still get the R301 PlayStation exclusive skin and Gibraltar pack?
The short answer is no. These packs rotate. Once the specific PS Plus promotional period ends, that's it. Sony and Respawn move on to the next one. They’ve done dozens since then—Pulse skins, Neon skins, Mineral skins. But those original blue-and-white designs? They stayed in the past.
There's a specific psychology at play here. In a game like Apex, where skins are the primary way to express identity, having something that is "delisted" is high-value currency. It's not about the pixels. It's about the date. When you see that blue R301 in the killcam, you know that player was dropping into Skull Town before it was destroyed the first time. Or the second time. Or the third.
The Technical Side: R-301 Performance and Cosmetic Impact
The R-301 Carbine has always been the "old reliable" of Apex Legends. Even with the meta shifts we've seen over the years, the recoil pattern remains one of the most manageable in the game. It’s the gun everyone wants. Because the R-301 is so ubiquitous, its skins are scrutinized more than, say, a P2020 skin.
The PlayStation exclusive skin had one major advantage: visibility. Some of the legendary skins for the 301, like the "The Last Spartan," have bulky side-wings that can actually obstruct your peripheral vision when you're ADS (aiming down sights). The PS Plus skin used the base model of the R-301. It was slim. It was "thin." For competitive players, that’s actually a buff. You want as much screen real estate as possible.
Gibraltar’s skin followed the same logic. No massive extra shoulder pads or weird helmets that make his hitbox feel even larger than it already is. Just the classic "Brudda" look in a fresh coat of paint.
📖 Related: Why 4 in a row online 2 player Games Still Hook Us After 50 Years
How to Check If You Have It
You'd be surprised how many people have this sitting in their inventory and don't even know. If you played on PS4 or PS5 between 2019 and 2021 and had a subscription, you might have claimed it and forgotten.
- Filter your R-301 skins by "Rare" (Blue) tier.
- Look for the PlayStation logo or the specific blue/white color blocking.
- Check Gibraltar’s "Rare" skins for a matching set.
Cross-progression finally being a thing means if you moved from PlayStation to PC, your "OG" skins should have followed you. Seeing a Master-rank player on PC using a PlayStation-exclusive skin from five years ago is a very specific kind of intimidating. It says, "I've been doing this a long time."
The Market for "Old" Apex Accounts
We have to talk about the elephant in the room. Account selling. It’s against the Terms of Service. You shouldn't do it. You'll probably get banned. But, the existence of these exclusive skins has created a weird underground market. People look for accounts with the R301 PlayStation exclusive skin and Gibraltar gear specifically because they are "clean" accounts from the early seasons.
It’s a reminder that digital scarcity is real. Even a "free" skin can become a collector's item if you wait long enough.
The Future of Platform Exclusives
Respawn has gotten better at this. Now, we see Prime Gaming skins, Monster Energy collaborations, and even Twitch Drops. But the Sony partnership remains the most consistent. Every few months, a new "Play Pack" arrives.
They are rarely as iconic as that first year, though. Maybe it’s nostalgia. Maybe it’s just that the original PlayStation blue is a better color than the neon greens and oranges they’ve been using lately.
👉 See also: Lust Academy Season 1: Why This Visual Novel Actually Works
If you're looking for the next "big" exclusive, pay attention to the mid-season updates. Usually, that's when the PS Store refreshes its offerings. If you see a skin that looks exceptionally clean—grab it. Don't wait. In three years, you'll be the one people are searching for on Google, wondering where that "vintage" skin came from.
Actions You Can Take Now
If you are a skin collector or just someone who wants to maximize their Apex locker, here is the move.
First, stop looking for a way to buy the old R301 PlayStation exclusive skin. It's gone. Anyone telling you they have a "code" for it is scamming you. Those codes expired years ago. Instead, focus on the current "active" PS Plus pack. Even if you don't like the current Legend featured, claim it. These items never come back to the store.
Second, make sure your EA account is properly linked to your PlayStation Network ID. With the current state of cross-progression, losing access to those early-year exclusives because of a botched account link is a nightmare. Go to the EA website, check your "Connected Accounts," and ensure everything is green-lit.
Lastly, keep an eye on the "Recolors" section of the Apex store. While Respawn rarely brings back platform exclusives, they have been known to release "tribute" skins that use similar color palettes. It’s not the original, but it’s the closest you’ll get if you missed the boat in 2019.
The R301 and Gibraltar PlayStation combo isn't just a set of skins. It's a timestamp. It’s a piece of Apex history that reminds us of the game's explosive start. Whether you have it or you're just admiring it from the spectator screen, it represents the era when the Outlands were still new.