Respawn has announced a US-West matchmaking test for Apex Legends, with cross-play enabled by default across platforms. Console players can opt out through settings, but EA warns that disabling cross-play increases queue times. PC players cannot turn it off.

The test is intended to shorten queues and narrow matchmaking skill bands. Those are Respawn's goals, not confirmed results.

Which servers and dates are covered?

US-West servers are the announced region. The October 6 notice scheduled the test to begin around 10 AM PDT on October 7, 2026, and run until the season ends on November 3. It does not announce a worldwide rollout or an exact ending hour.

That planned start was 1 PM EDT, 6 PM BST in the UK, and 7 PM CEST in Central Europe on October 7, or 4 AM AEDT on October 8 in Sydney and Melbourne. The notice establishes the schedule; Game Pelt has not independently tested the rollout on every platform.

What is Respawn trying to improve?

Respawn wants players to spend less time waiting and face opponents within tighter skill bands. The announcement provides no measured improvement, exact new rank spread, or guarantee that uneven matches disappear.

Cross-play itself already exists in Apex. The dated news is this regional matchmaking test, rather than the first opportunity to play with friends on another platform. The notice also gives no new aim-assist values or evidence of Javelin's effectiveness.

How do console players opt out?

EA Help's console instructions begin in the lobby. Open the Game Menu using the cogwheel, select Settings, scroll to Cross Platform Play, and choose Disabled. Choose Enabled to turn it back on.

The official support page says PC players cannot disable cross-play. Respawn's test notice offers the opt-out to console players, so the console instructions should not be presented as a PC workaround.

Does switching it off change the queue?

Yes. EA says disabling cross-play limits matches to other players on your platform who also disabled it. The smaller pool comes with longer waits. It does not promise easier opponents or a particular ranked outcome.

If your console session falls within the US-West test, check your setting before queuing. Keep cross-play enabled to participate, or disable it with that waiting-time trade-off in mind. Judge improvements when there are actual results, rather than treating the test's aims as a fix already proven to work.