It’s hard to believe Apex Legends is five and a half years old. In those five-plus years, players have been treated to a variety of modes that stretched the core tenants of battle royale in new and interesting ways, from the ring flares of the Chaos Theory event to the self-heal zones of Flashpoint during the Aftermarket event.
One limited-time mode players have consistently asked to see again is Solos. As the name implies, Solos allowed Apex players to take on the game’s battle royale by themselves. The appeal is instantly obvious: No annoying squadmates slurping up your ammo and no teammates quitting the match as soon as they’re downed means fewer distractions on your way to the top.
Solos hasn’t been seen in Apex in a long time, leaving many players wondering if the mode will ever make a triumphant return.
Is Apex‘s Solo mode returning?
Respawn has finally announced Apex‘s Solo mode will be making its return alongside the launch of the game’s next season, Upheaval, which will get a gameplay trailer on Friday, May 3. Players will also get another glimpse at the next Legend to join the game’s ever-expanding roster, along with new lands to explore.
Solos will let players break away from the tedious task of finding decent teammates, and give single-player stars a chance to shine on their lonesome. Although Apex was built for team play, there are some characters that can thrive in a Solo environment, like Bangalore, Octane, and Pathfinder.
In the next season, the game’s new character Alter will be available to try as well. She is marketed as a deadly assassin with a mysterious past, and seems perfect for a game mode that requires a focus on yourself and your success.
Is Apex‘s Solo mode a permanent addition?
Unfortunately, Apex‘s Solo mode has not been confirmed to be a permanent addition to the game’s rotation. There is a possibility that, similar to its original run, this is a test to see if Solos are viable in the game’s current state. If the mode is still dealing with the issues that plagued it in the past, it might be taken away just as quickly.
Why was Apex‘s solo mode removed?
Respawn introduced Apex’s solo mode with the launch of the Iron Crown Collection event in 2019, and it was an instant hit. The mode wasn’t without flaws, especially after solo players began teaming up with each other during games.
Following the rise of “teamers,” Respawn remained undecided on whether the game mode would be a permanent addition to the game or another event-exclusive game mode. In the 1.16 patch notes, the Apex developer mentioned it was collecting feedback and monitoring “healthy matchmaking” before deciding if the game mode would return.
In the patch notes for The Old Ways event, Respawn finally said Solos doesn’t fit the company’s vision for the game and that it hindered Apex’s intended gameplay style.
“When we introduced Solos as a limited-time mode last year we saw it actually negatively impacted the game, especially when it came to new player retention,” Respawn said. “We’ve also designed Legends and their abilities to compliment teamplay and squad composition, but when played Solo some Legend abilities become useless.”
