Apex Legends is running a solo-queue-only test in ranked for everyone at Diamond rank and above. During the test, players in Diamond, Master, and Apex Predator cannot squad up as a premade in ranked and must matchmake alone. The version that was originally planned for earlier in Season 29 slipped, and Respawn has now locked a firm window.
Quick answer: The Diamond+ solo-queue-only ranked test starts June 30 at 10am PT and runs until July 13, or until enough data is gathered. If you are Diamond or higher, you will be unable to queue ranked with a duo or trio for that period.
Release time: June 30, 2026, 10:00 AM PT
Who is affected and what changes in ranked
The constraint applies to ranked only, across all regions, and only to the top tiers. Once you reach Diamond, the option to ready up with friends in ranked is removed, so every Diamond+ player loads in with two new squadmates. Lower tiers play ranked exactly as before, and pubs are untouched, so you can still group up in unranked modes.
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Start | June 30, 10am PT |
| End | July 13 (may end early if enough data is collected) |
| Modes affected | Ranked only |
| Tiers affected | Diamond, Master, Apex Predator |
| Premade queuing | Disabled at Diamond and above |
| Pubs / unranked | Unchanged |
You will know the test is active when, after hitting Diamond, the ranked playlist no longer lets you start matchmaking with a squad. If you and a friend both sit at Diamond+, you will each have to queue separately.
Why Respawn is testing solo queue at the top ranks
The driver is the gap between solo players and coordinated three-stacks. Respawn has named the solos-versus-premade imbalance as one of its core matchmaking pain points, noting that solo players are at a disadvantage against coordinated trios, especially in ranked. You can read the breakdown in the studio’s matchmaking tests update.
The data points the same direction. Players who mostly queue as a premade reach the highest tiers faster, and the performance gap between solo players and full squads is largest above Diamond. A three-stack of equally high-skilled players tends to significantly outperform everyone else, so the test removes that coordination edge to see whether top-end lobbies become more evenly matched.
Respawn says it deliberately avoided splitting ranked into separate solo and premade playlists. Splitting the pool would fracture the player base, push queue times up, and widen matches, so a single queue with a solo-only rule keeps populations intact while it gathers data.
Not everyone agrees on the tier cutoff. Some pros support solo queue at the very top but argue Diamond should be left out, since Diamond players can get matched against Predators, while others would prefer it as an optional separate playlist rather than a forced rule.
Why the test was delayed from June 9
The solo-queue test was first set to run June 9 through June 23, then went quiet. Respawn pushed it back because its rapid pace of matchmaking tests had caused complications, including outages during the previous split that were tied directly to testing. The team decided to prioritize stability before flipping the switch.
After watching matchmaking systems hold steady over recent weeks, Respawn concluded it could proceed on June 30 with minimal risk. The reasoning is laid out in the solo-queue test update on the official forums.
Other recent changes for solo players
This is one of several matchmaking moves, not the only one. For Season 29, anyone solo queuing in ranked or pubs is matched against opponents of a slightly lower skill tier to give them more of a chance against three-stacks. Respawn also widened the initial matchmaking search from 30 seconds to 60 seconds before loosening skill restrictions, a change made global on May 7, 2026, that reduced high-end skill mismatches without a major increase in queue times.
Ranked map rotations were also shortened from 24 hours to 4.5 hours, which is now permanent. Separately, the midseason patch removed the Champion Squad display, a change that drew pushback from players who relied on it to gauge lobby skill and spot cheaters.
What to expect during the window
Treat it as a roughly two-week stretch rather than a guaranteed full run, since it can wrap early. There is also a timing wrinkle: the ALGS Split 1 Playoffs take place July 7 to 11, so many pros will be at bootcamp scrimming for LAN instead of grinding ranked during the test, which raises questions about how representative the data will be at the very top.
Respawn has framed this as a single test, not a permanent decision. If the fairness gains do not justify removing squad play at the highest tiers, the studio says it will weigh other approaches to the same problem. For now, if you play ranked at Diamond or above, plan to climb alone from June 30, or stick to unranked when you want to play with friends.
