With the release ofApex LegendsSeason 16,Respawn Entertainment has shaken up the world of the Outlands. This is the first season thatApex Legendsdidn’t add a new character, instead opting to adjust core gameplay structures via a new class system. With a series of meaningful buffs to characters like Pathfinder and Mirage, as well as hard-hitting nerfs to Legends like Seer and Horizon, Season 16 is full of changes that players have been asking for.
But whileRevelry didn’t introduce any changes to maps directly, one of the most meaningful changes came to the Ranked map system. Rather than designating two maps for Ranked with a 45-day split, Ranked mode now rotates between the three featured maps daily. Not only does this remedy the fatigue players feel after 45 days of playing on the same map, it also addresses a controversy with Season 15 to rebuild some good will with frustrated players.
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Rotating Maps in Apex Legends Ranked
Before Season 16 introduced a series of Ranked fixes, Ranked has historically consisted of two 45-day splits, each of which featured one map. This meant that fans might be forced to play on King’s Canyon for 45 days in a row, then switch to Storm Point for another 45. This was initially introduced as a way to familiarize players with a map, and was potentially helpful for newer players dipping their toe into Ranked for the first time.
Ranked gameplay is different than public matches, requiring team coordination, strategic rotations, and patience. Giving players a chance to get to know a map over a month-and-a-half was perhaps a necessity in the early days ofApex, but nowadays, this forced introduction to a map feels unnecessary. Players can decide for themselves which Storm Point rotations work best, orwhich Legends play well on Olympus.
Apex Legends' Season 15 Ranked Map Controversy
On January 19, Respawn Entertainmentremoved Olympus fromApex Legendsafter the map began causing game client crashes. Olympus was one of the three maps featured in Season 15, and its removal meant players only had access to two maps for the remainder of the season. Ranked was the most heavily affected mode, as the second split of Ranked was planned to take place on Olympus. With the map’s removal, Respawn replaced it with World’s Edge, a map known for its hot dropping and kill-or-be-killed gameplay. It’s engaging, but not ideal for the patience and strategy encouraged by the Ranked points system.
This problem was compounded by the fact that the Olympus/World’s Edge swap was preceded by an unprecedented 76-day Ranked split on the new map, Broken Moon. The new map quickly wore out its welcome and in response to player feedback, Respawn has already promised not to divide its future Ranked splits so unevenly. But at this point, many players were already asking thatApex Legendsnot assign a single map per Ranked split.
World’s Edge is a divisive map. Its central POIs, Fragment East and West, are fan-favorites for racking up kills and viral gameplay clips. But Ranked requires an entirely different approach, as kills aren’t necessarily the focus. The Ranked system awards points based on how long a squad survives, and if a squad racks up four kills in Fragment but dies in the first ring, they’ll likely still be in the negative. Fans of hot dropping in Fragment were forced to recalibrate andlearn to navigate World’s Edgein Ranked gameplay.
The fact that Season 16 introduced a new Ranked map rotation addresses both issues. First, the change suggests that Respawn is listening and responding to players' frustrations. Second, it gives players the freedom to choose which map they want to use for Ranked. If a player dislikes Ranked on World’s Edge, they can just wait until it rotates to Storm Point or Broken Moon. While many players love dropping Streamer Building, when it comes to Ranked, it’s probably safer to stick to the outskirts - or wait for another day entirely.
Apex Legendsis available now for Mobile, PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
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