October 2021 - last edited October 2021
Note: This idea is not mine - I came across it years ago, when playing The Last of Us: Factions (MP).
Background:
I've been playing Apex Legends since launch, and over the years, have heard countless players (myself included) express frustration over their solo-queue experience, both in pubs and (especially) ranked matches. We all know how that goes, so I won't bother detailing the familiar story (you have low-skill TMs, and yet you're constantly up against 3-stacks of seeming pros). Bleh! (Am I right?)
The pitch:
Everyone has their suspicions regarding matchmaking: Its algorithm, variables, whether it's skill-based or EOMM, etc., and who knows what's really going-on ... All I know for certain is that I'm tired - as are many others - and that promised changes never quite seem to hit the mark. I suppose it's hard for players to get on board with something, when we aren't actually told the details, and are instead expected to just trust the process ... Only to find that nothing improves in terms of our playing experience, once that process is over. So here's my thoughts: Give us something that we can actually see, and use it to make (positive) changes that we can actually feel.
The idea (NB: This is NOT the same as 'no fill' mode):
Apex needs a new, user-driver option: To play in either 'solo-queue matchmaking', or to play in 'parties matchmaking.' Here's how it'd work: After loading the game and selecting your desired game mode (pubs, ranked, arenas), you'd then select either 'solo' or 'parties,' effectively putting you into 1 of 2 different matchmaking queues and lobbies. 'Solo' means that anyone and everyone in that entire match will be another soloist ... With your team consisting of you + 2 other solos, and every opponent squad consisting of 3 solos as well. 'Parties,' on the other hand, would function differently: You can *choose* to play this mode when solo, but you're *forced* to play in it when you have either a 2 or 3 person preformed squad. If you select this mode when playing solo, then you are partied with either 2 other solos that have also opted to play in 'parties' mode, or with a 2-person preformed squad (wherein you act as the "filler").
Rationale:
So why is this a good idea? It provides more user control; opens-up a new foundational means of balancing squads, as well as lobbies (broadly); alleviates the potential stress of dealing with squadded TMs that do not communicate with you (if they are in a chat party); etc. In brief, it lets me - the player - decide whether or not I want to deal with the potential added stress and frustration of soloing against 3-stacks, and as opposed to being *forced* to have this experience. In other words, if I want the added challenge, then the option is there; but if i don't, then I can just sit down and play the game and actually *enjoy* it, as I know that the odds are more-so equal for everyone.
October 2021
And as Respawn would say: "The queue times! The queue times would get prohibitively long if we split the playerbase like that." And then they add duos... Arenas, Arenas ranked. And apparently soon Arenas 4v4 and 5v5. 😂
October 2021
October 2021
Yeah, I've heard that retort myself elsewhere, but it's neither helpful, nor to the point (as I think your facetious tone reflects). The player-base is clearly large enough already, and they're fiddling with multiple "brackets" dividing players anyhow; might as well make it actually beneficial then, no?
October 2021
I understand why you might say that, but I suspect that you're really just speculating/presuming ... Got proof? Either way, do we not want solutions to issues, instead of more excuses?
On a side - though also, somewhat related - note: I've already come across so many jaded people on the various threads that I've been dedicating to this topic; it's kinda sad. What happened to people's resiliency? Should I be no different then? Heh 🙄