Forced Solo Queue Ranked Feedback

The recent decision to force Diamond-ranked players into a solo-only queue has completely changed what made Apex Ranked enjoyable for me, and in my view it is a major design mistake.

For years, one of the biggest strengths of Apex Legends has been the combination of competitive progression and teamwork. Every season, my duo partner and I set goals, improve together, and push for the highest rank we can achieve. The ranked grind was not just about reaching a badge—it was about doing it as a team. This new system removes that experience entirely.

I work hard throughout the day and genuinely look forward to logging on with my friend and competing together. Now, once we reach Diamond, we are effectively locked out of continuing that journey as a duo. We can still play the game, but we can no longer participate in the mode that gives us a sense of progression and accomplishment together. It feels like a core part of the Apex experience has been taken away.

What makes this change particularly frustrating is that there were many alternative solutions available that could have addressed competitive concerns without removing player choice:

• Restrict solo-only matchmaking to Predator and perhaps Masters, where competitive integrity is most critical.
• Increase RP penalties for deaths to place greater emphasis on survival and placement.
• Reduce kill RP value and shift the focus back toward strategic play and end-game performance.
• Apply increased RP entry costs or RP penalties to premade squads to compensate for communication advantages.
• Use separate matchmaking weighting for full stacks rather than eliminating them altogether.

Instead, the current solution removes social play from the highest levels of ranked progression. Apex has always been a team-based battle royale. Communication, coordination, and teamwork are fundamental skills that the game was built around. It seems contradictory to suddenly remove those elements from a significant portion of the ranked experience.

I also believe this change misunderstands one of the reasons Apex has maintained such strong longevity. Many players return season after season because ranked provides long-term goals they can pursue with friends. The social aspect is not separate from the ranked experience—it is a major reason people stay engaged with it. By making high-level ranked more isolated, the game risks damaging one of its strongest retention mechanisms.

I understand the desire to improve competitive fairness and address matchmaking concerns. However, forcing solo queue at Diamond does not feel like a balanced solution. It solves one problem by creating another, and for players like myself it has made ranked significantly less enjoyable.

For the first time in years, this change has genuinely made me consider stepping away from Apex. Not because the game is too difficult, but because the experience I enjoyed most—improving, competing, and climbing with a friend—has been removed.