update · February 5, 2025
Apex Legends Update Targets Cheaters, Bots, and Matchmaking Resets
Respawn Entertainment has detailed upcoming anti-cheat measures and matchmaking experiments for Apex Legends. Recent actions removed 17.4 million ranked points from teaming exploiters, while new machine learning models target automated bot accounts.
Respawn Entertainment has outlined major anti-cheat enforcement figures and upcoming matchmaking tests in a new developer blog for Apex Legends. The update details ongoing crackdowns on teaming and botting, alongside a preview of upcoming quality-of-life features and experimental playlists.
Anti-Cheat Enforcement and Bot Detection
Automated teaming detection algorithms led to action against roughly 1,200 accounts across all platforms and the removal of 17.4 million ranked points. To combat an increase in bots bypassing security, Respawn built a machine learning model designed to detect current and future automated accounts. Additionally, developers resolved two server-side vulnerabilities that recently compromised high-profile creator and pro accounts.
Upcoming Matchmaking and Skill Features
An Unranked Pre-Match Skill Display is rolling out for Trios BR next season, showing lobby skill spread and squad context without exposing raw numerical values. Future updates will also seed new mode skill values using historical match data to make initial matchmaking less chaotic, while upcoming tweaks to seasonal rank resets aim to reduce early-season skill mixing.
Experimental Tests and Queue Adjustments
Developers are testing NPC Apex Bots in lower-tier public lobbies as opponents to help newer players, while keeping squad sizes intact. Other tests include preferential matchmaking to balance solos against premade squads without destroying queue times, and further adjustments to maximum wait times to tighten skill bands in matches.
Why this patch matters
Respawn's latest roadmap shows a clear focus on cleaning up competitive integrity and smoothing out lobby skill gaps, though many of the biggest matchmaking changes remain in testing.