Apex Legends, one of the most played battle royale games in the world, is now two years old. However, despite having proven its longevity, Apex Legends is still missing some surprising features. Take, for example, private matches, a typical feature in popular online multiplayer games throughout the decades. However, this is a feature that Respawn Entertainment has decided Apex Legends has gone too long without. Apex Legends players can look forward to the addition of Private Matches soon.
The confirmation comes from Respawn game director Chad Grenier in an interview with BrownGirlGamerCode. Grenier begins by describing how Private Matches are already in place for Apex Legends behind the scenes, a tool that Respawn can use for tournaments and events. He goes on to say that Respawn is currently working to enable private matches for the public as well. Grenier does not have a schedule at this time, but says the team is working to make it available “as quickly as possible.”
Grenier provides context as to why the feature is currently available behind the scenes, but cannot be activated for public use. Specifically, that the new Apex Legends feature is currently built for small-scale use. To make it work globally, Grenier says Respawn still has work to do. It could be just a matter of ensuring adequate server power is available to support the feature, or it could be more complicated.
Grenier also provided additional context on how private parties work. He says the feature, as it currently exists, is robustly designed. Not only does it allow players to group in private matches across platforms, it also has cross-play for private lobbies. As such, an event organizer can host a match from their PC while inviting players on PlayStation or Xbox. Closed platform systems for private parties are quite contrary to the purpose of the function in the first place, after all.
The need for private parties and lobbies should be evident. The most obvious use of them is for tournaments and events where the organizers want to limit access to a match to a very strict list of players. But it also boils down to situations where players may want to play with a small group of friends or use a private lobby to practice some specific practice.
Obviously, lobbies and private parties are not necessary to create a successful game. Apex Legends, as well as other modern live service games, have proven it. However, with Apex Legends having success for two years, there is no reason why Respawn should not continue to implement features that the community wants if it can. For private lobbies, that just means waiting a little longer.
Apex Legends is available now on PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One, with support for iOS and Android in development.
Source: Dexter
