Apex Legends is currently testing longer matchmaking searches in its Wildcard mode, specifically for the US-West region, as reported by International Business Times, Singapore Edition. This test means players will spend more time in the queue, starting with those on the West Coast of the United States.
The source material doesn’t specify how much longer the searches will last, the duration of the test, or which skill brackets are impacted. We won’t speculate on those details. Neither Respawn Entertainment nor Electronic Arts has released specific numbers in the information we’ve reviewed.
A second change in US-West arrives the same week
The US-West region will also see another matchmaking-related update. According to Happy Gamer, Apex Legends will enable default crossplay there starting October 7. This means two changes are happening simultaneously in how players find matches in the same area.
Default crossplay increases the player pool for matchmaking. A longer search window allows the system more time to utilize that pool. However, neither report confirms a connection between these two changes, so consider that link a reasonable assumption rather than a clear plan.
Why this trade-off matters
Matchmaking systems balance speed against match quality. A longer search can help create a better-balanced lobby, but it also means players will wait longer in queues. Whether Respawn makes the right choice here will be evident in the queue times and overall player satisfaction.
The game has a significant audience to maintain. Currently, Apex Legends has 74,495 players on Steam and boasts a 76% positive rating from 452,239 Steam reviews. Keep in mind that these figures only represent Steam players, excluding console or EA app users, so the total player count is likely higher.
Wildcard is the mode that Respawn has been expanding lately. Our previous coverage of the Blood Pact update discussed the introduction of Beast-Demon Wildcards on Kings Canyon, which naturally attracts players already interested in this mode.
| Current Steam players | 74,495 |
| Steam reviews | 76% positive (452,239 reviews) |
| Metacritic score | 80 |
| Release date | February 4, 2019 |
| Developer / Publisher | Respawn Entertainment / Electronic Arts |
Community Pulse
Our sentiment tracking recorded 10 signals on Apex Legends, and the overall tone appears mostly negative. The recent Steam reviews we examined don’t address the matchmaking test directly. Several identical negative reviews state, “hello kitty island adventure is better :<", expressing frustration but lacking specifics regarding queues. Players haven’t provided detailed reactions to the longer search times yet.
What To Watch
- Official updates: Keep an eye out for Respawn or EA to share targets for search times, the length of the test, or patch notes that clarify these changes.
- Regional rollout: The test begins in US-West. If it expands to other regions, it would indicate whether Respawn views the results as successful.
- Player feedback after October 7: Monitor Steam review trends and community feedback once default crossplay goes live, since both changes affect the same region.
Sarah Chen
Sarah Chen is the Reviews and Guides Editor at Explosion.com. With a background in game design studies and 6 years of gaming journalism, Sarah brings technical insight to her reviews and creates comprehensive guides that help players get the most out of their games. She has reviewed over 200 titles across PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo platforms. Her current obsessions include FromSoftware titles and indie roguelikes.
