How to Set Up and Join Custom Games in Halo Infinite
Reading Time: 3 minutesGet the most out of Halo Infinite’s multiplayer experience with custom games.
While Halo’s multiplayer has a long history of competitions, Halo’s legacy is just as attuned to social gaming as it is competitive. Halo has always provided social and fan-made alternatives to your standard FPS multiplayer, whether through Forge or Custom Games.
Despite this, Halo Infinite launched without any custom matchmaking support but went on to add a Custom Game Browser that brings the social side of Halo back to the forefront of the game.
But what exactly is Halo Infinite’s Custom Game Browser, and how do you actually use it? Let’s find out.
What Is Halo Infinite’s Custom Games Browser?
Released in Halo Infinite’s December 2022 update, as posted on Halo Waypoint, the Custom Game Browser allows you to host or select a custom game server for any fan-made map or game mode. This means that classic social game modes in Halo, like Duck Hunt or Trash Compactor, are easily accessible to play or host.
Halo Infinite’s Custom Games Browser also means that brand-new social game modes, like Avalanche Hill, can reach the community and be played by anyone, not just people on the friend list of the host.
Moreover, with some of the missing features of Halo Infinite, like the lack of support for local campaign co-op or staple game modes from the franchise, the Custom Game Browser can alleviate these content gaps.
While fans found ways you can unofficially play local co-op in Halo Infinite, the browser allows fans to make fan-made versions of missing game modes like Infection that you can play regardless.
For Halo Infinite, the Custom Game Browser unlocks a vital part of the franchise’s identity and brings the social and fan-made matchmaking Halo Infinite was sorely lacking.
How to Search and Join Custom Lobbies in Halo Infinite
Now you know what Halo Infinite’s Custom Game Browser actually is, you may want to know how to start joining and searching through the various custom lobbies available to you. To start searching and joining custom game lobbies using the Custom Games Browser in Halo Infinite, follow these steps:
- From the main menu of Halo Infinite, press the Right Bumper to navigate to Community.
- Select Customs Browser.
- Once the Customs Browser loads, you will be able to see all the available lobbies for you to join, as well as Filters for you to specifically search for a game mode or lobby.
- To search or join a custom game, either search for your desired game mode via the Filters section or simply select one of the lobbies available.
- With one of the lobbies selected, you will be placed in the Details screen, select Join Game.
It is important to note that the Details screen of any selected game lobby will also enable you to save game modes and maps so you can host and play them yourself. All you have to do is select Map Details and select Bookmark, and the map will be saved into your available maps.
And with that, you can join and save any available custom game being hosted in Halo Infinite at any time, heightening your social experience with Halo.
How to Set Up Your Own Custom Game Lobbies in Halo Infinite
Now you know how to navigate and join available custom games via the Halo Infinite Custom Game Browser, what if you want to start hosting and showcasing your own custom game modes and maps in Halo Infinite?
To start your very own custom games server for people to join via Halo Infinite’s Custom Games Browser, follow these steps:
- From the main menu of Halo Infinite, ensure the options for Play are highlighted and select Custom Game.
- Once the custom game lobby loads, select your desired Map and then select your game mode from the Mode Editor.
- After you have set up your desired map and game mode, select Lobby Options.
- Ensure the Privacy setting is set to Open.
With your custom game’s Privacy set to Open, your custom lobby will appear in Halo Infinite’s Custom Games Browser, ready to be openly joined and searched for by community members.
While social multiplayer through the Custom Game Browser is good for social gaming, it’s important to note that matches you complete through custom games will not go toward your Battle Pass progression.
Because of what battle passes are and how they function in games like Halo Infinite, very few custom or socially-orientated matches will earn you experience points regardless of the game.
Explore the Social Side of Halo Infinite
With the Custom Games Browser unlocking a great legacy feature of the Halo franchise, social games are a very welcome addition to Halo Infinite, a game in much need of content and free updates.
However, Halo Infinite is still missing key features, and these features are only being trickled into the game via their Battle Pass and Season systems. In the meantime, the Custom Game Browser allows fans to make up for the lack of content through their own replacements and creations.