Quitting Apex Due to Poor Ranked Matchmaking
I decided to solo queue to Masters this split. Getting to Diamond was relatively easy. Too easy I'd argue, as it results in a huge variety of skill levels in Diamond 4.
This issue of skill variety is then exacerbated by high RP Masters and Pred level players in every Diamond lobby. As I write this, I am Diamond 2 and I regularly find my games ending as a result of dying to Pred players. Earlier this weekend, I faced a 3-stack Pred team that were all in the top 10. Beating these teams in order to progress through Diamond 2 is absolutely nonsensical.
If matchmaking times need to be longer to prevent these imbalanced lobbies, that is worth it. Queues are extremely short right now -- because it just dumps Diamond 4 through Pred into the same lobbies.
This is all made worse by obvious smurfs and cheaters, though I recognize those are difficult challenges to resolve.
I enjoy a challenge, but having random Diamond teammates against 3-stack Pred teams is just not a good experience. I imagine rolling through lobbies gets boring for the high level players too.
For reference, attached is a lobby distribution I had when playing as Diamond 3. The lobby has 18 Preds and 14 Masters to beat -- with me as Diamond 3. Just one of many examples of objectively poor lobby quality.
I hope matchmaking will improve in future seasons so that I can return to the game.