Apex Legends Experiments with Major Ranked Changes

Sure thing—let’s dive into this whole Apex Legends matchmaking change. So, Respawn’s shaking things up a bit with this new tweak for Ranked mode—like, Masters and Predator players, yeah? They’re getting some new rules about which matches they can join. And it’s all during this sorta weird transition before Season 26 hits, which is apparently kicking off in August. This could totally mess around with the competitive scene, but in an interesting way. Maybe? Or not. Guess we’ll see.

You know, people have been all about that Ranked mode in Apex for a while now. There’s something kinda addictive about climbing up to that Predator level. But, uh, let’s be real—it’s been a bit bumpy along the way. They’ve been tweaking and reworking things over the years like they’re trying to find the secret sauce that’ll keep everyone happy. With Season 26 looming, they’ve just dropped this little bombshell of a plan.

Oh, right! So, this plan? It involves this matchmaking thing that changes, like, who the pros can play with. In simple terms: Masters and Predator folks can’t chill with anyone under Diamond 1 in matches. Why? Well, Respawn’s testing out if this might level the playing field a bit. Or balance things out? Players have been kind of moaning about this forever. The whole unbalanced deal where lower-ranked teams get stomped by top players. So there’s that.

Anyway—right, focus! There’s a catch, obviously. Those below Diamond 1 might still bump into Masters and Predators. It all hinges on whoever’s the top dog in the squad. Like, a Diamond 1 player could drag their lower-ranked buddies into a more intense lobby. Wild, huh? But, apparently, if this thing goes well, the players might get shuffled around in a way that makes sense. Or it could be chaos. Who knows.

Kinda curious though, how’ll this play out in the long game? If it sticks, whoopee! But Respawn’s also super cautious, like, they want to do it at season’s end to keep a good bunch of high-rank players. There’s a possible hiccup—like, longer waits in queues because fewer people fit the bill. If things get too slow, Respawn’s ready to pull the plug—like fast. Oh, and they’re keeping mum on how long this test is running. Suspense, much?

Hopefully, players dig this tweak. And maybe it’ll make Season 25’s tail end exciting—or less chaotic if we’re lucky. They’ve been hinting at these Ranked changes coming in Season 26. So, let’s see if this matchmaking trick makes the cut. Keep your eyes peeled!