Apex Legends changes Masters matchmaking wait and limits matchdowns to Diamond 3

A Steam news post on January 22, 2026 says Ranked lobbies will get a longer max wait for Masters and that Masters players will only be matched down to Diamond 3 this season.

Respawn Entertainment has outlined 6 adjustments to Ranked matchmaking for Apex Legends as the season approaches its end. The developer said that the maximum matchmaking wait time for Masters players has been increased. The change follows earlier matchmaking tests and is intended to address current player populations.

In addition, under this season’s player population, Masters players will be restricted to matching only down to Diamond 3. That restriction will limit how far a Masters player can be paired down by rank when the queue is filled. If players queue as a premade, matchmaking will continue to take into account the squad member with the highest Ranked tier when forming matches.

Hey legends! Based on previous matchmaking tests, we’ve made some adjustments to Ranked lobbies as we approach the end of the season.
The new changes include increasing the maximum matchmaking wait time for Masters players. With this season’s player populations, Masters players will be restricted to matching only down to Diamond 3.
Note: if you’re in a premade squad, matchmaking will continue to take into account the member with the highest Ranked tier on your team.

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Conquer with character in Apex Legends, a free-to-play Hero shooter where legendary characters with powerful abilities team up to battle for fame & fortune on the fringes of the Frontier.

Master an ever-growing roster of diverse Legends, deep tactical squad play and bold new innovations that go beyond the Battle Royale experience—all within a rugged world where anything goes. Welcome to the next evolution of Hero Shooter.

Genre: Shooter, Tactical
Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch 2, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Modes: Multiplayer, Co-operative, Battle Royale
Release: 2019-02-04
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Age Rating: PEGI 16 / CERO D / GRAC 19+ / USK 16 / CLASS_IND 14 / ACB MA 15+ / ESRB T
IGDB Rating: 75.5/100