Respawn Entertainment has shared an update regarding its recent matchmaking test for Apex Legends.
In the blog post, the developer covers several key details about matchmaking, the results of test 26.1, context for recent updates to duo matchmaking, upcoming changes and more.
The blog by Respawn Entertainment begins with a breakdown of the matchmaker’s priorities. The two main criteria include filling lobbies with similarly skilled players and doing so within a set period of time.
Various factors impact how quickly it can find a balanced match, including platforms, region and the active population. It observes how there are ‘peak’ and ‘valleys’ for player counts in each 24-hour period, which affects the efficiency of matchmaking.
Test Results and Upcoming Improvements
The developer then revealed its findings with matchmaking test 26.1, which ran for two weeks following the end of the second split. The test was Respawn’s second attempt at separating the Masters tier, which consists of players ranked as Apex Predators, from matching with Platinum and below.
Respawn shared that the test was successful in limiting master’s matchmaking without impeding queue times in the lobby, observing improvements by the end of Season 26. It shared that it is looking to extend improvements to impact overall seasonal matchmaking as opposed to solely the end.
Respawn Address Solo and Duo Matchmaking
Other community concerns were also addressed in the blog post, including the solo queue experience. The developer has stated that it will not split solo queue players from pre-made squads, explaining that doing so would double the length of queue times and widen the skill gap in lobbies.
Additional context was provided for the recent duo changes that were introduced, which reduced the lobby size to 30 and adjusted the map rings to improve match pacing. Respawn shared that the change was made as a result of over half of the active duo population moving to Wildcard, the game’s latest permanent mode.
Future Changes
Looking to Season 27 and beyond, Respawn Entertainment offered a preview of upcoming changes in development.
It outlined plans to create more consistent matchmaking across all ranks for entire seasons, while introducing stricter limits to prevent Masters from playing with Platinum when the population increases.
Furthermore, future changes to Apex Legends include increasing maximum queue times for highly ranked players to prioritise match balance, while bringing faster and narrower matchmaking for certain ranks.
Could This Affect Esports?
For Apex Legends’ highest-ranked players, several of whom are active esports players, bringing tighter matchmaking for the sake of balanced matches may impact their practice experience between tournaments.
The extent of the impact will depend on how quickly these changes are implemented, as the ALGS scene rapidly approaches the 2026 Championship in Japan. The time players put in now could make all the difference in deciding which squad takes home the lion’s share of a $2m (~£1.51m) prize pool.
