Kings Canyon may be returning to unranked matches in Apex Legends

(Image credit: Respawn Entertainment)

We already knew Kings Canyon is returning to Apex Legends next month for ranked play, but it looks like unranked squads mode may be getting the map back too. This leak comes via @That1MiningGuy on Twitter who has a history of correctly identifying unannounced Apex Legends content from his data mining efforts. 

In a tweet, he hinted at what he found though didn’t get too specific about what exactly led him to believe the original map will be available all over. “Judging by some things found today - I can say that I do believe Kings Canyon will be available for both Ranked and Squads whenever the split happens. It will likely be the Season 2 version. - not a confirmation on either, just a likelihood due to code.”

The “split” he refers to is the ranked mode divide that will have the first half of Ranked Series 3 take place in Worlds Edge, while the second half, running from March 24 to May 5, will return to the game’s roots with Kings Canyon. Until now, it was believed that only ranked play would see the return of the original map, but apparently we should expect differently. Respawn has yet to comment on the news and maybe won’t until they have an official announcement to make. 

Battle royale maps have been handled differently by different studios. In Fortnite, Chapter 2 introduced a brand new map which took the place of the original map, though both have been known to receive makeovers over time due to seasonal content. In PUBG, players currently have four maps to choose from and will soon have five. The recent addition of PUBG’s smallest map, the Tatooine-like Karakin, also backburnered snowy Vikendi while the studio works on improving it. It may be the case that soon Apex players will have their choice of two maps when they drop in.

Apex Legends season 4 proves the genre can still be a vehicle for inventive storytelling

Freelance Journalist

Mark Delaney is a prolific copywriter and journalist. Having contributed to publications like GamesRadar+ and Official Xbox Magazine, writing news, features, reviews, and guides, he has since turned his eye to other adventures in the industry. In 2019, Mark became OpenCritic's first in-house staff writer, and in 2021 he became the guides editor over at GameSpot. 

Latest in Apex Legends
Apex Legends Control
Months after ruling out an Apex Legends 2, EA CEO says "an even bigger, more meaningful" Apex 2.0 is on the table after Battlefield 6
Lifeline looks into the camera with a smirk
After 5 years, Apex Legends is going back to the beginning with a Fortnite-style mode letting you experience the launch version of the battle royale FPS
Apex Legends
Apex Legends was a top 50 Steam Deck game, but EA's dropping Valve's handheld because it can't tell if those players are actually dirty cheating Linux users
Apex Legends Catalyst
72,632 'Overwhelmingly Negative' reviews later, EA walks back controversial Apex Legends battle pass changes: "You've spoken, and we've listened"
Apex Legends
EA announces Apex Legends is getting twice as many battle passes and you can no longer earn them in-game
Apex Legends
Apex Legends' new swimsuit skins have fans predictably down bad
Latest in News
Ezra Bridger in Ahsoka
A Star Wars actor just quietly confirmed that filming has begun on Ahsoka season 2
Mario
A surprise bonus Nintendo Direct is coming a week early: "There will be no updates about Nintendo Switch 2 during this presentation"
God of War
20 years later, God of War's original monster art has been revealed: behold this army of stick figures slapped on a whiteboard, no clue Kratos is coming for them
Assassin's Creed Shadows Naoe facing off against samurai warrior on red bridge
An Assassin's Creed Shadows fan is showing off some of the RPG's most impressive little details, and it's done more to get me interested than Ubisoft ever did
A woman chasing a shining butterfly with a leaping cat on her shoulder in InZOI
InZoi has a long way to go before it can actually rival The Sims as its director says EA's "spent decades perfecting" the formula
Final Fantasy 14 Dawntrail
Final Fantasy 14 patch makes an effort to combat mods that can enable harassment, but players report it's "very easy" to reverse newly hidden account IDs