Respawn to test default cross-play for console Apex Legends players on US-West servers

Respawn Entertainment will begin a regional matchmaking test in Apex Legends on October 7 that enables cross-play by default for console players on US-West servers.

The test, which starts at approximately 10 a.m. PT, is scheduled to run until the current season ends on November 3.

Respawn said the goal is to get players into matches faster while keeping opponents closer in skill.

"The test is intended to shorten queues and narrow the skill ranges of players matched together," the studio said in its announcement.

The studio's stated aim is to shorten queue times and tighten matchmaking skill bands, meaning players should ideally face opponents closer to their own ability.

A larger pool of available players could help the matchmaker find suitable opponents without making everyone wait longer.

Console players who want to leave the test can turn off cross-play in the settings menu.

EA’s cross-play guide lists the option as Cross Platform Play, and players can set it to Disabled to opt out.

There is a trade-off, as EA says disabling cross-play restricts matchmaking to players on the same platform who have also disabled it, which can increase queue times.

The test could revive familiar arguments about aim assist and platform advantages.

Players who dislike facing controller aim assist may worry about more console opponents, while console players concerned about mouse aiming, movement, or PC hardware advantages may push back in the other direction.

However, Respawn’s announcement does not explicitly say this test puts everyone into combined PC and console lobbies.

Under EA’s published cross-play rules, console players normally match together, with console and PC parties entering PC matches.

Casual players could also find a default-setting change frustrating, particularly if they previously chose to limit cross-platform matches.

Respawn has already experimented with changing who can queue together.

Its earlier solo-only Ranked test required Diamond, Master, and Predator players to enter matches individually, removing premade squads from those higher ranks.

Removing stacks failed to deliver the hoped-for improvement in match quality.

More players encountered Masters and Predators, while Ranked participation declined.

Respawn ultimately decided against making solo-only matchmaking a permanent requirement.

Redington Cybersport reported in October that the solo-only Ranked test, which forced Diamond, Master, and Predator players to queue alone, failed to improve match quality and led to a decline in participation.

The announcement also included two minor fixes: players can no longer fall through the ground at Terraformer on Broken Moon, and Gibraltar's skydive emote audio will no longer continue after landing.

Whether the new cross-play test translates into better games is what the experiment needs to establish.