If you needed a sign of how some of Apex Legends’ top players feel about the upcoming solo queue-only Ranked test, ImperialHal just gave you one. The Falcon star, widely regarded as the most decorated ALGS player of all time, made it pretty clear he is not thrilled about the change. And he did it with a single comment that doubles as both a scheduling note and a quiet shot at Respawn.
ImperialHal’s Comment on the Apex Legends Solo Queue Test
Reacting to the news that the Diamond plus solo queue only test would run during a specific window, ImperialHal pointed out that he will be at Tournaments during that time. In other words, he won’t have to touch the Ranked queue while the test is live.
On the surface, it sounds like a simple heads-up about his schedule. But anyone who follows competitive Apex knows there is more going on here. The comment lands as a subtle jab at Respawn, with Hal essentially saying he is relieved he can sidestep the whole thing thanks to the competitive calendar lining up in his favor.
ImperialHal Is Frustrated With the Diamond Plus Change
To understand the frustration, you have to look at how Hal actually plays the game. He has been the number one-ranked Predator player in the NA region, and he lives in the highest ELO lobbies the game has to offer. That is his normal environment.
The new test changes that environment in a big way. During the run, players ranked Diamond or higher cannot queue into Ranked as a premade squad. For someone like Hal, who regularly grinds alongside his pro teammates and other top streamers, that is a major shift. Being unable to queue with the people he usually plays with takes away a core part of how he approaches Ranked, and that is exactly the kind of thing that would rub a top-tier competitor the wrong way.
So when he says he will be at Tournaments and away from Ranked, it reads less like a casual update and more like a player making it known he is happy to avoid the test entirely. Also, he believes being forced into a solo queue ranked almost six years into the game’s life could be detrimental to the player base.
The Solo Queue Test Explained
For some quick context on what Hal is reacting to, Respawn has confirmed that the Diamond plus solo queue only test starts June 30th at 10 am PT and runs until July 13th, or until the team gathers enough data. During that window, anyone Diamond or above will be locked out of queuing as a premade group in Ranked.
Respawn also explained the reason the test was delayed in the first place. The studio pointed to a recent matchmaking blog where it talked about running frequent and varied matchmaking tests, and admitted that this fast pace sometimes leads to complications. Some outages during the last split were tied directly to those tests, so the team decided to prioritize stability above everything else. The delay came straight out of that, with Respawn wanting to be sure all systems were stable before pushing the test live. After watching matchmaking hold up over recent weeks, the studio now feels confident moving forward on June 30th with minimal risk.
The impact on the Apex Legends Pro Scene
When one of the biggest names in competitive Apex openly signals he is glad to avoid a Ranked change, people pay attention. Hal’s reaction taps into a wider conversation among high-tier and pro players who rely on queuing with their squads to practice, create content, and stay sharp.
It is worth remembering that this is exactly the kind of friction the test is designed to surface. Respawn wants data on what happens when Diamond plus players are forced to go solo, and the reactions from top players are part of that story, whether the studio likes it or not. Hal choosing Tournaments over Ranked during the test is a small moment, but it speaks volumes about how the upper end of the player base is feeling heading into June 30th.
Love the change or hate it, the solo queue test is coming, and at least one of Apex’s biggest stars has already made his stance crystal clear.
