Apex Legends Ranked Changes Meet Backlash on Steam

Apex Legends is set for a revamp of its ranked mode, but initial player reactions are quite negative. According to Gamesurf, Respawn Entertainment is modifying the ranked structure. Feedback on Steam highlights a new rank tier that falls between Platinum and Diamond.

Details on this change are scarce. Gamesurf confirms the overhaul but hasn’t provided the complete rule set. We’re still waiting on official patch notes. So, treat the tier addition as player-reported until Respawn or EA releases the specifics.

The timing of these updates is crucial. Shattered.io has published an Apex Legends tier list comparing Season 29 and Season 30, revealing that the game’s meta is shifting. Typically, ranked changes coincide with these resets, prompting players to rethink their Legend choices and grinding strategies.

Respawn has maintained a consistent flow of live-service updates this month. On October 16, the Blood Pact event introduced beast-demon wildcards to Kings Canyon. On October 18, the studio began testing longer matchmaking searches in US-West. Then on October 20, they introduced Conduit as a new Legend. This ranked overhaul marks the fourth major change to the game within about a week.

The longer matchmaking test is particularly relevant to ranked play. Typically, longer search times enhance skill matching, and a ranked ladder with more tiers requires a substantial player base to keep each tier filled. Right now, Apex has 136,411 players on Steam, so population isn’t an immediate issue. Respawn hasn’t clarified if this matchmaking test relates to the ranked changes.

By The Numbers

Current Steam players	136,411
Steam reviews	76% positive (452,407 reviews)
Metacritic score	80
Release date	February 4, 2019
Developer / Publisher	Respawn Entertainment / Electronic Arts

Community Pulse

The overall community sentiment from the 10 signals we monitored leans mostly negative. A recurring Steam review captured this sentiment, representing one strong opinion rather than a wide-ranging consensus. The reviewer stated that adding “another [expletive] rank between plat and diamond is really what this game needs,” and directed blame toward EA while criticizing controller players. This complaint reflects a common concern with ranked changes: more tiers can seem like mere cosmetic fluff to players focused on skill-based matchmaking.

What To Watch

• Official patch notes: Keep an eye out for confirmed tier names, rank point values, and any adjustments to entry costs or demotion rules.
• Matchmaking test results: Monitor whether Respawn expands the longer-search test in US-West or connects it to ranked queues.
• Steam review trend: The game currently sits at 76% positive across 452,407 reviews. A sustained decline in recent reviews would indicate if the backlash against ranked changes goes beyond a few vocal players.