Respawn is running a matchmaking experiment on the US-West servers: cross-play is being switched on as the default option for every player on every platform. The goal is simple – shorter queue times and tighter skill bands in your matches. Alongside it, the update also brings two bug fixes.
Cross-play as the default in US-West
The test kicked off on October 7th at roughly 10am PT and covers all platforms on the US-West servers. It runs until the season ends on November 3rd.
- Who it affects: all players on all platforms connecting to US-West.
- Why: to shorten queue times and tighten matchmaking skill bands.
- Opt-out: console players can leave the test by turning cross-play off in the settings menu.
In practice that means if you play on console in US-West and you do nothing, you will be matched with PC players by default. If that is not what you want, the switch is still in your settings.
The test is expanding to Wildcard
Early data showed promising results – better queue times and tighter match skill-widths – so Respawn is extending the test to Wildcard matchmaking as well. That expansion goes live at 10am PT on October 16th and again impacts players on all platforms in US-West.
If you want to know what has been happening in the mode itself, we covered the Wildcard adjustments and the Axle nerfs in separate articles.
Bug fixes
- Fixed an issue with missing floor geo on Broken Moon in Terraformer – players can no longer clip into the ground.
- Fixed an issue with Gibraltar skydive emote audio persisting after landing.
What it means for you
This is a time-limited test, not a permanent change – its results will decide whether cross-play defaults stick around. Respawn has a track record of publishing what comes out of these experiments, as it did with the Ranked matchmaking test.
Where to go next
If you have been running into connection or queue trouble lately, we have a separate piece on Javelin matchmaking errors. Everything else is collected in our Apex Legends news hub.
FAQ
It started on October 7th at approximately 10am PT and runs until the season ends on November 3rd. The Wildcard expansion goes live at 10am PT on October 16th.
The test covers all platforms on the US-West servers.
Yes – console players can opt out by turning off cross-play in the settings menu.
The stated intention is to shorten queue times and tighten matchmaking skill bands. Early data showed promising impacts on both, which is why the test is expanding to Wildcard.
Missing floor geo on Broken Moon in Terraformer, which let players clip into the ground, and Gibraltar skydive emote audio that kept playing after landing.