Does Apex Legends have skill-based matchmaking?

Many multiplayer games use skill-based matchmaking, also known as SBMM, to pair players with similar skill levels. Apex Legends has a popular ranked mode, but does it also apply the controversial SBMM system to casual matches? Here’s what you need to know about skill-based matchmaking in Apex Legends.

Apex Legends continues to be one of the most popular battle royale games out there. Season 18 is already here and has brought a character-changing rework for Revenant along with some other much-needed nerfs and buffs. But it hasn’t avoided one of the most hotly debated topics in the gaming space — skill-based matchmaking.

Apex Legends’ dedicated ranked mode, which also received a big update, pits players against others of almost the exact same skill level. However, players feel that public matches can be just as competitive as Ranked, and blame it on skill-based matchmaking.

We’re breaking down how skill-based matchmaking works, and whether it exists in Apex Legends.

• What is skill-based matchmaking?
• Does Apex Legends have skill-based matchmaking?
• Will Apex Legends remove skill-based matchmaking?

What is skill-based matchmaking?

Skill-based matchmaking, or SBMM, is a type of matchmaking where the game attempts to match similarly skilled players against each other.

Different games have different ways of calculating SBMM, but they usually use stats like kill/death ratios to measure the skill level of players. SBMM has made pub stomping less common, as players face opponents with similar skills in every match. This means that each round will be more competitive and challenging.

Does Apex Legends have skill-based matchmaking?

Yes, Apex Legends features skill-based matchmaking. It’s not as strict as it is in the ranked mode, but there shouldn’t be a huge gap between your own skill and the lobby’s average.

You’ll likely find your first few Apex Legends matches relatively easy, but it’ll continue to get more difficult as the game assigns you a hidden SBMM rank and starts matching you against similarly skilled players.

Will Apex Legends remove skill-based matchmaking?

Apex Legends is very unlikely to ever remove skill-based matchmaking from the game. It has become the standard feature in almost all multiplayer games, and it helps to keep most of the community engaged. An Apex developer stated in 2019 that skill-based matchmaking has “indisputable evidence” of retaining 80-90% of the players.

So, it appears that skill-based matchmaking is here to stay — and not just in Apex Legends, but in almost all multiplayer games.

That was all bout SBMM in Apex Legends, For more on the game, be sure to check out:

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