Respawn Entertainment has released a new blog post detailing recent changes to Apex Legends’ matchmaking system. The studio aims to address fan concerns and provide a more transparent approach to balancing matches.
The issue of matchmaking is not unique to Apex Legends, but rather a common challenge in competitive online games. Players have criticized the game’s tendency to throw players against higher-ranked opponents after a single good game, as well as the use of skill-based matchmaking in casual modes.
To address these concerns, Respawn has implemented Continuous Window Matchmaking (CWMM), which adjusts match pool size based on the number of players online. This system aims to provide more balanced matches during peak hours and can be easily capped by Respawn to prevent long wait times.
However, the effectiveness of CWMM relies heavily on how Apex Legends measures player skill. The studio has acknowledged fan criticism about frequent changes to these conditions, making it difficult to track progress. To address this, Respawn has simplified the condition explanations and will continue to monitor player feedback.
Recent updates have also introduced a new matchmaking feature: a ranking bar at the bottom of the screen, allowing players to see the ranks of every opponent in a lobby. This provides transparency and enables easy reporting of balance issues.
In addition, Respawn is working on measures to address factors contributing to imbalance, such as low population queues and premade teams with high skill disparities. The studio acknowledges that team communication and playstyle cohesion are key to success, but some skill gaps will always be present.
The changes aim to provide a more balanced matchmaking system, taking into account player feedback and acknowledging the complexity of this issue in competitive multiplayer games.
Source: https://gamerant.com/apex-legends-matchmaking-update-december-2024