Apex Legends Experiments with Major Ranked Changes

Okay, let’s dive into this bizarre world of Apex Legends together — though, honestly, I’ve no clue how I ended up writing about virtual battles. But here we go. So, Respawn decided, like out of nowhere, to mess with the matchmaking in Ranked. Yeah, just threw a curveball and, bam, now the Masters and Predator players — basically the high-achievers, not your average Joe — can’t buddy up with anyone below Diamond 1. Kind of exclusive, right?

Now, imagine you’re just chilling in Ranked mode, dreaming of being the ultimate Apex Predator — because who doesn’t want that fancy title and all? But, surprise, surprise! Respawn’s like, “Let’s spice things up,” maybe keep us on our toes or make us sweat a bit more for Season 26, which is dropping in August, by the way. Feels like they’re always stirring the pot or shaking the table — depends on your perspective, I guess.

Ranked mode, if you’ve been living under a rock like I sometimes do, is basically where all the intense gamers go. You climb levels, chase the dream, all the dramatic flair. And let’s be real, it’s had its fair share of issues — just ask anyone who’s ever tried to crack the nut of reaching Predator status without losing their sanity. Respawn’s been tweaking and fine-tuning this mode like they’re trying to nail the perfect soufflé — lots of reworks and adjustments.

But anyhow, back to the present chaos. There’s this matchmaking test thingy going on. High-level players are, let’s say, “politely nudged” to not party with those below Diamond 1. Cool, right? Or maybe not. Maybe they’re testing if we fly solo or if everyone’s secretly been carrying their noob buddies all this time. Wild thought, I know. Some folks have been moaning about skill gaps anyway, so maybe this is Respawn’s love letter to those frustrated ranks.

This whole plan? Apparently, it’s supposed to “equalize” the skill levels in matches — whatever that means. Like, sure, Master players brawling it out sounds intense but take a breather before hitting the panic button. Oddly enough, during this test phase, you can still bump into these powerhouse players. Respawn dropped this nugget of info on Twitter — where all dramas unfold nowadays. Basically, matchups depend on the highest ranked player in your squad. So, theoretically, if you’ve got a Diamond 1 buddy, well, brace yourself for some sweaty opponents. Makes the whole thing sound like some twisted high school clique drama — only with more digital bragging rights and less cafeteria vibes.

This shake-up could hang around if everyone’s into it. Or not. Who knows with these devs? They’re hoping this test runs nice and smooth, which means Masters and Predators are maybe low-key vibing with this whole setup. Of course, the flip side is queue times could stretch longer than my usual Netflix binge. Awkward if you’re trying to squeeze a quick game in between life duties — not that I’ve ever done that. If things drag too much, Respawn might pull the plug early. They’re playing coy about how long this test lasts.

Cross your fingers, or not, that this test makes Ranked less of a headache and more of a thrill for the rest of Season 25. Season 26 is lurking around the corner with hints of updates, including, possibly, this matchmaking spasm. Keep an eye on it, or just chill and see how it unfolds. Whatever happens, I guess we just roll with it. Or not.