visited page below to see the database requirements to install Apex 23.1 and notice that there is no XE version mentioned here
https://docs.oracle.com/en/database/oracle/apex/23.1/htmig/apex-installation-requirements.html#GUID-02BE4A34-B631-412C-8A82-EB92DABBACE0
also it's min database ver requirement is 19c, it means if someone has 22.x on 21c XE now should upgrade db to 23c Free and then install Oracle Apex 23.1… or i am missing something?
it seems one day it will ask to only have on Cloud interface…may be.
regards