There's no longer any mode in this game where you can "play" in peace.
Ranked - anything above D4 is unprofitable due to terrible matchmaking, numerous cheaters, and 3-stacks.
Pubs - people immediately leave games after being killed.
Wildcard - the biggest sweat, 3-stack kill grinders, and a huge number of cheaters.
Generally speaking, Apex is no longer worth playing for casuals or those with low or average skill.
The worst part is that even though a lot of people cheat in Wildcard, I still see the same names in every lobby I play every day. It's impossible to play with matchmaking like that. SBMM should be completely removed from public games so you don't waste half your day playing with cheaters.
I may not be at a high rank, but I completely agree with your assessment. Despite the flaws, I still genuinely enjoy Apex, which is why my group of friends (A, B, C, and myself) is so persistent about wanting a True Bot Royale.
You hit the nail on the head regarding Pubs. We see it all the time—people hot-dropping 1v3, dying instantly, blaming the team, and then quitting. That’s exactly why we try to rotate our group so we can always have a full 3-man squad just to have a functional match.
As for Ranked, it might sound contradictory, but since my friends (B and C) have never touched Ranked and I haven’t played for several seasons, we are starting from Bronze. Do you think there’s any hope for us to use the lower ranks as a learning ground, or will we just run into the same 'sweaty' issues there too?
I’ve tried Wildcard a few times and it was fun, but you’re absolutely right about the intensity and the players there. This is why I keep advocating for a 100% Private Bot Royale. I want to be a Mentor, not a 'Smurf.' I want a space where I can actually teach my friends the ropes without the toxic interference of the current live modes.
Based on your experience with the game, do you think there's any chance or trend that the developers might actually implement a Private Bot Royale? We really, truly want this to happen.
Personally, I don't trust the "current" developers of Apex.
Since Season 21, they've been ruining the game with most of their ideas.
The constant buffs to legends have killed the point of Apex. The game no longer relies on anything other than free movement.
Now all I see everywhere are Wraith, Octane, Alter, Horizon, and MadMaggie.
70% of legends are unsuitable for normal competitive play.
I don't think they'll implement something like that because they're not doing anything for casual players.
Ranked ranks at low ranks only make sense in the middle and near the end of the split.
To all Apex developers – please go play Wildcard for a few days with a character without free movement. I wish you luck in your ongoing battles with Wraith and Octane.
Octane is unbearable to shoot at every time (he has such a fast movement speed and everywhere is jump pad), and Wraith runs away every 15 seconds if he's about to die.
God, this game is a complete mess now.
You hit on a very painful truth about the current state of the game. The 'Movement Meta' you mentioned is exactly why it’s almost impossible for a newcomer like C to learn in live matches anymore. When every engagement involves a Wraith or Octane moving at lightning speed, a beginner who is still struggling with basic recoil control stands zero chance. This is why we are so desperate for a Private Bot Royale—to have a 'controlled environment' where my friends can actually practice without being hunted by movement gods.
Your point about Ranked also confirms my fears, but it also gives us a glimmer of hope. If the lower ranks finally become 'playable' for learners near the end of a split, that is the window we’ve been waiting for. Thank you for pointing that out; it’s good to know there’s at least a specific time where we might find our own space.
Actually, we’ve started seeing some progress lately—winning more often, getting more kills, and hitting higher damage in some matches. It feels great, but we still truly need that Private Bot Royale. We want a place where we can sustain that progress and enjoy the game's beauty at our own pace, every day, not just at the end of a split. Thank you again for being so honest about the current situation.
