Respawn has expanded its matchmaking test once more in Apex Legends, mainly because higher-rank players continue to dodge queues. The reasoning is straightforward enough: make matches fairer for Masters and above, even if it means those players have to sit a little longer before actually getting into a game.
What Happened in the First Test
Image Credits: Respawn Entertainment
During the first phase, Masters were limited to matches against other Masters or Diamond I players. At first glance, this sounded like a smart solution. But the outcome was not as simple. Wait times didn’t suddenly explode, yet there was a noticeable 7% increase in queue dodges among Diamond I and Masters. A number of players even admitted they just left the queue entirely after waiting too long.
What’s more, Diamond I players ended up spending more time in the game, while Masters became less active overall. For regions with fewer players, or during unusual play hours, queues stretched even longer, sometimes several minutes, just to get one match started.
How Players Reacted
The reaction was fairly mixed. Some players praised Respawn for finally taking steps to improve fairness and felt the change was a positive sign. Others, especially those at the very top of Ranked, were less happy about waiting longer just to play a limited set of matches. For them, it quickly became a question of whether quality was worth the delay.
Plans for the Next Phase
Image Credits: Respawn Entertainment
Looking to Split 2, Respawn plans to ease the rules slightly. Masters will still primarily match with Masters or Diamond I, but if necessary the system may expand to include Diamond II or even Diamond III. Platinum and below, however, will stay excluded so that the skill gap doesn’t widen too far.
The Balance Challenge
All of this shows the bigger goal for Respawn: finding balance between fair matches and reasonable wait times. Players should be able to get a game eventually, but the developers also want matches to feel competitive and logical.
