Apex Ranked 2023 Is Still a Failure

Apex Ranked 2023 is still a failure. Unfortunate, but true. I'm sure there's countless of other users out there with similar concerns, and although this issue has been extensively discussed for many seasons, Apex Legends has simply just not done enough. First of all, instead of making things better, Apex decided (quite some time ago) to implement half season splits that are completely nonsensical and makes it infinitely more difficult to reach higher tiers. I'm also unsure of what was their logic behind it. You think Gold Rank Players (the most populated rank) were suddenly going to make it all the way up to Diamond, Master or even Predator? Seems doubtful for at least 70% of the Gold Rank playing base. Secondly, they increased the penalty for ranks (this was done approximately 1-2 years ago), making it even more difficult to rank up. They thought that by adding the 'participation' points (which are not enough) they'll be able to balance ranked, but they just completely destroyed it, made it far more unplayable than it ever was. I've been playing Apex since season 1 and ranked since it was first introduced, I've made it to Platinum (comfortably) every season I have played, and made it to Diamond (a little more grind) before these changes were implemented. Now I struggle to stay out of Gold and that's because of all these nonsensical changes that have ruined the game. Not only that, but why the hell would Apex allow Bronze levels and -- yes, sometimes even rookies to play in Gold? Not to mention Predators and Masters joining the lobbies every now and then (rare, but it does happen). The problem is that Apex is making it INCREDIBLY EASY to rank up from Rookie all the way up to Gold, and once players reach Gold that's when it truly gets competitive. So basically, most of us that aren't streamers and don't have organized teams are left to suffer, despite us being significantly better than the average Gold player. All those noobs that make it from Rookie to Gold are just stuck with us -- and there's simply no way to rank up unless you literally find a professional team, where every single player is really good. Apex literally matches you with players that maxed out at Rookie or Bronze last season, how does that make sense when I maxed out at Platinum? Shouldn't I be ranked with other players that also made it to AT LEAST Silver 1, Gold and/or Platinum their last season?

A big joke. They just announced some changes to ranked today, but I highly doubt they'll ever recover from this mess they've created.

discussion

meece
3 years ago
Y'all missing the point that if >30% of players are matched together you don't have a "ranking system", or it's not being used lol

13 Replies

hayhor
Hero
3 years ago
@SaraGod7 Apex hit peak player count to start the current season. It doesn't seem like it is a failure.

Also many of the issues you have with ranked are changed next season. Either way if you are stuck in a rank, that is your rank.
Sonvekk
3 years ago
@hayhor I partially agree although peaking numbers doesn't apply to just rank because there's more to do than just playing rank.
hayhor
Hero
3 years ago
@Sonvekk Ranked has issues. It's why they are changing it. But saying the mode and game is a complete failure has zero data to back it up.
reconzero
Seasoned Ace
3 years ago
@hayhor

"Either way if you are stuck in a rank, that is your rank."

That is the fundamental truth of ranking systems that oh so many players simply seem unable to accept. Oh, my bad teammates, oh, the unfair system, oh, the cheaters and smurfs, oh, the split, oh, the grind, oh, my dog ate my rank. Sorry, guys. You are what you are, as a wise sailor once said.
meece
3 years ago
Y'all missing the point that if >30% of players are matched together you don't have a "ranking system", or it's not being used lol
Cro_Pittt
3 years ago
@reconzero I mostly agree with you and @hayhor but to be fair you can lose a good amount of points simply because of dumb teammates. I finished in Plat I the first split but with better teammates in some of the games i could've reached diamond for sure. As an example I can't remember the number of times i lost points because someone pushed yolo or hotdropped.
el7uarvszheo
3 years ago
There is no point to complain about ranked system now, since it is already getting major updates and on paper it should resolve all of your problems.
reconzero
Seasoned Ace
3 years ago
@Cro_Pittt

"but with better teammates in some of the games i could've reached diamond for sure."

With better teammates we could all reach master. This is the nature of a team-based game. Your rank is not just YOUR rank - it's a sum of your rank plus the ranks of everyone you ever got teamed with, minus the rank of everyone you ever engaged as an enemy. This is one of MANY reasons why people tend to find ranking systems unsatisfactory, though they don't always even realize it. And well they should find it unsatisfactory. We all know too well how loose matchmaking is in this game, and I'm sure there are many players who got weak teammates and superior opponents often enough that it didn't all even out over time, statistically speaking. I haven't really found that to be the case for myself, but I play A LOT, and also I'm not chasing any rank. People who play less? People who care about rank even when they don't really understand its nature? I wouldn't want to be those people.
blackeyeriver
3 years ago
@reconzero Do you play ranked and what rank are you? Also, seeing that you guys are so good at the game, do you have the 20 kill badge, 4k damage, triple triple etc? This is a serious question btw.
reconzero
Seasoned Ace
3 years ago
@blackeyeriver

My ranked grind ended with Halo 3. I've played this game from the beginning, but I only played ranked matches briefly during season 14 (or was it 15) to remind myself of all the reasons why ranked play is a horror show, not least for a solo queuer.

20/4k??? No, I have no aimbot, anti-recoil, wall hack, macros, strike packs, elite controller, carrying master squadmates, or whatever brain wiring is required to get them without all the toys & cheats & boosting buddies I read so much about. I kinda hate to phrase it that way because it sounds like I'm bitter about not having them and nothing could be farther from the truth. I'm only bitter about the apparent amount of cheating that goes on in gaming these days and about which apparently nothing can be done.

Short version: no, I'm not particularly good at the game. Only experienced at certain aspects of the game, and full of opinions about the psychology of rank ladders.