Respawn’s Apex Legends has hidden animal Easter eggs throughout its map. Right out of the gate it was clear that Apex Legends would be a runaway success. The game managed to hit 10 million players within its launch week, and gamers have been enjoying the latest battle royale entry ever since. Since Respawn first cut its teeth with Titanfall (which takes place in the same universe as Apex Legends), it was inevitable that a handful of references to that series made it into this title.

Indeed, there are Easter Eggs are scattered about Apex Legends that longtime followers of the studio are sure to find familiar. One of these comes in the form of a Loch Ness Monster-inspired animal affectionately referred to by the community as Nessie (though it doesn’t have anything do with the Toho monster of the same name). This loveable plesiosaurus has made the transition over to Apex Legends – much to the delight of fans – but it’s not alone. In fact, there is another pair of stuffed animals that can be found within the game.

Nessie is said to be found hidden within Apex Legends’ training map. Players are able to jump into this mode from the main menu, and are actually encouraged to do so upon first booting up the game. Speaking to Kotaku, Respawn’s PR manager Brad Hilderbrand addressed why the creature made its triumphant return to the limelight: “The plush dino critter is Nessie, a long-running Respawn Easter egg. All the maps in Titanfall and Titanfall 2 had a hidden Nessie somewhere in them, so the team kept her legend alive in Apex.”

The other creature hiding within Apex Legends is none other than a dog. The creature has been found in two locations so far. A gap within the mountains on the training map has one dog tucked away within it, while the other dog is located in King Canyon’s market area within the actual Apex map. Both appear to be toys of the exact same dog, although the latter is surrounded by pictures of real-world dogs. The history of this Easter egg has yet to be explained, so it may or may not just act as a loving tribute to pets of some of Respawn’s developers.

Then again, perhaps these are hinting at future Apex Legends updates. Maybe animal companions will be added just like pets joined Fortnite, which would be a wonderful cosmetic item for gamers hoping to customize the rather wonderfully inclusive characters of Apex Legends a little more. Only time will tell what Respawn Entertainment is doing with these hidden animals, but it likely won’t be long until fans learn if there’s a greater purpose behind their inclusion.

More: Apex Legends Guide: The Best Tips & Tricks For Playing & Winning

Source: Kotaku, Image via Digitalastronaut