Despite Respawn’s emphatic statement to the Apex Legends community in January of this year that solos mode would never return, the unexpected has happened. The developer had firmly emphasized the squad-based nature of the game as the reason behind this decision. However, contrary to these assurances, solos mode has made a surprising comeback in Apex Legends Season 21, boasting a revamped experience.
Apex Legends Solos Mode Makes a Return with Enhancements!
To begin, it’s essential to note that Solos mode is not a permanent addition to the game this time around. Instead, Solos will temporarily replace the Duos playlist for a limited period of six weeks. This means that players will have the opportunity to dive into solo matches exclusively during the first half of Season 21.
Solos mode makes its return to Apex Legends after an absence of nearly five years. Its initial introduction was during Season 2’s Iron Crown Collection event. Since then, the game has undergone significant evolution, incorporating features such as EVO shields, legend reworks, and various upgrades. With these advancements in mind, Respawn aims to revisit and experiment with Solos mode once again.
What’s Fresh in Solos Mode for Season 21
As outlined by Mike Button, the Events Lead for Apex Legends, the updated Solos mode introduces three significant features. Firstly, players no longer need to search for loot and attachments as fully-kitted weapons will be readily available upon landing.
In addition, the mode features an auto-healing mechanism that activates when players are out of combat or successfully eliminate an opponent. Despite this, traditional healing items such as medkits and syringes will still be scattered across the map for players to collect.
The second and arguably most crucial addition is the introduction of the brand-new “Battle Sense” mechanic. As Mike explained during an online press event, without teammates to communicate enemy locations, the game assists players by detecting nearby enemies and sending an on-screen ping with an accompanying audio cue.
However, it’s important to note that the ping does not reveal the exact location of the enemy, as that would be considered excessive hand-holding. Instead, it serves to alert players to the presence of nearby adversaries, allowing them to remain vigilant and prepared.
In a significant twist, the game doesn’t end when players are eliminated by an enemy for the first time. Each player is granted an additional chance to showcase their skills, thanks to the introduction of the Respawn Token. Should a player fall during the initial four rounds, such as in a hot drop scenario, they will respawn, with their death box marked on the map for retrieval.
For those displaying exceptional prowess, the option to reserve the Respawn Token until the fourth ring closure is available. In doing so, the Respawn Token is converted into EVO points, aiding in the leveling up of shields and unlocking legend upgrades.
Additionally, several minor adjustments have been implemented to enhance the Solos experience. These include granting more EVO points from harvesters and scanning world packages, reducing the player count to 50, and tweaking ring sizes, among other enhancements.
Why Respawn is Revisiting Solos Mode Testing
Now, let’s address the obvious question: why is solos mode making a comeback despite Respawn’s previous assertion that it would never return? According to insights shared by the developers in an online press event, the resurgence of solos mode can be attributed to the mounting demand from players and a renewed interest in exploring the concept.
Lessons gleaned from previous Limited-Time Modes (LTMs), the Mixtape playlist, and player behavior have informed valuable enhancements such as the introduction of respawn tokens and auto-healing. Furthermore, the decision to extend the takeover duration is driven by the developers’ desire to gather additional player feedback. This feedback will be instrumental in fine-tuning the solos mode and potentially laying the groundwork for its permanent inclusion in the game in the future.
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