Apex Legends developer Respawn is getting ready to host a new event for Christmas.

The Winter's Haunt event has a December 17 release date on PlayStation, Xbox and PC. Fans can start playing from 6pm GMT UK time.

The Apex Legends Winter's Haunt event features a brand new selection of festive rewards, as well as a limited time game mode and an update.

According to the patch notes further down the page, Lifeline and Newcastle both receive balance updates, while the Rift Relics mode adds the EPG-1.

As for the Winter's Haunt event, fans will be pleased to hear that the Winter Express mode will make a return.

In Winter Express, three teams board the train, but only one will survive. Respawn explains more: "Don’t lose track of time, the countdown begins when the train stops at a station.

"Capture the train or remove all enemies to close out the round and score a point. Now with all weapons and all Legends!"

Fans will be able to unlock 30 limited-time cosmetics, which include the Hell Hundr Bloodhound skin, the Bear Arms Bangalore skin, Alabaster Baron Ballistic skin, Bear-Iccade Rampart skin, Dollface Ash skin and Cold Explosives Fuse skin.

Players can unlock the skins as part of the event pack, or by purchasing them directly from the item shop.

Apex Legends Winter's Haunt event update patch notes...

LEGENDS

Lifeline

• D.O.C. Halo: increased cooldown to 180s (was 150)

• Hands-free D.O.C.: revive is now the same speed as non-support Legends

Newcastle

• Revive Shield

 - White: 250 HP (was 300)

 - Blue: 400 HP (was 450)

 - Purple: 600 HP (was 750)

• Mobile Shield

 - Base CD increased to 20s (was 15s)

 - Removed invulnerability, Thick Shield HP now integrated into base

 - Swift Shield upgrade now also reduces CD to 12s

MODES

Rift Relics: EPG-1

• The EPG-1 joins the party

 - This single fire, direct energy propelled launcher brings something special to your arsenal: splash damage and rocket-jumping capabilities.

COMMUNITY DRIVEN BUGS

• Akimbo Weapon Mastery: Held XP is not correctly generating/is low in match summary.

• Graphics: Not enough shaders loading in at boot, occasionally results in stutters and/or missing textures or models (affects both DX11 and DX12).

• Welcome Pass: Players were getting stuck at Level 39 or not being awarded final rewards. A hotfix went out for this earlier this week.