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Halo Infinite Custom Game Browser (CGB) Overview

Table of Contents

What is a Custom Game Browser and how is it different from matchmaking?

When matchmaking, players queue in a playlist to join a multiplayer match with other players. The selected playlist determines which map and mode combination that players may load into. For example, the Tactical Slayer matchmaking playlist may place players in a 4v4 Tactical Slayer match on the Live Fire map while the Big Team Battle playlist may load players into a 12v12 Big Team Slayer match on the Breaker map.

Matchmaking playlists are designed and curated by the Halo Infinite development team. Additionally, they are available for players to queue into at any time via the Multiplayer menu.

The Custom Game Browser added in the December 6, 2022 update allows players to join active Custom Games led by other players or host their own Custom Game that other players can join. Custom Games can use any mode and map combination, including combinations not used in matchmaking.

Unlike matchmaking, the Custom Game Browser will not queue players to join an upcoming Custom Game. The Custom Game Browser lists currently active Custom Games that players can join immediately without waiting in a lobby. When joining a Custom Game Browser session, players will join that session’s Fireteam then load into the in-progress match. When the match ends, all players in the session’s Fireteam will join the same Custom Game lobby. The Fireteam leader can then start a new Custom Game with the same group of players.

Screenshot of the Custom Games Browser menu.
The Customs Browser menu lists 12 sessions per page. Use the shortcuts next to the Page number to see more sessions or use the Filter options to re-sort and narrow down the session list.

Can I play Forge content in the Custom Game Browser?

Yes, all Forge maps and modes are supported in the Custom Game Browser. The Custom Game’s Fireteam Leader can select any map or mode that they have bookmarked or saved.

How do I find and join a CGB session?

To view and join a Custom Game Browser session, navigate to the Community tab of the main menu then select Customs Browser.

In the Customs Browser menu, use the Join shortcut listed along the bottom of the screen to instantly join the selected Custom Game or use the View Details shortcut to view a session’s Details menu. 

The Customs Browser menu lists 12 sessions per page with each session being represented by their map and mode names as well as a thumbnail of the map. The shortcuts listed near the top right corner of the session tiles will navigate between pages.

The Filters menu to the right of the tiles allows players to change the Custom Game Browser’s sorting and limit which sessions are shown. When changing Filter options, Refresh the list to see the updated search results.

The Refresh shortcut listed along the bottom of the screen will update the Custom Game Browser’s listed sessions. In addition to updating the results due to changed Filter options, refreshing the Customs Browser menu may show newly created Custom Games or remove Custom Games that have since ended or been filled.

Screenshot of the Community tab menu.
The Customs Browser is found in the Community tab of the main menu.

How do I start a CGB session?

To start a Custom Game Browser session, navigate to the Play tab of the main menu then select Custom Game. In the Custom Game menu, select Lobby Options then change the Privacy dropdown to Open. Select the preferred map and mode options then, when ready, press the Play button to start the Custom Game.

The Custom Game will only be listed in the Custom Game Browser once the match is in-progress. Setting the Privacy dropdown to Open then waiting in the lobby will not result in the match being listed in the Customs Browser menu.

Setting the Privacy dropdown to either Friends Only or Invite Only will not result in the match being listed in the Custom Game Browser.

Screenshot of the Custom Game Lobby Options menu with Privacy setting highlighted.
To ensure a Custom Game is listed in the Customs Browser menu, the Privacy setting in the Lobby Options menu must be set to Open.

How do I limit the number of players in my session?

In the Custom Game menu, select Lobby Options then change the Max Lobby Size dropdown to the preferred number of players. Custom Games and the Custom Game Browser support up to 24 players and 4 Observers per session.

Screenshot of the Custom Game Lobby Options menu with Max Lobby Size setting highlighted.
Use the Max Lobby Size dropdown in the Lobby Options menu to set the maximum number of players who can join the Custom Game Browser session.

Can I remove a player from my Custom Game?

The Custom Game’s Fireteam Leader can follow the steps below to boot a player from the session:

  1. From the pause menu, press the shortcut listed in the bottom right corner of the menu to open the Social menu
  2. Navigate to the Fireteam tab to view the players in the Custom Game.
  3. Navigate to then select the Gamertag of the player you wish to boot.
  4. In that player's Player Options menu, select Boot to remove that player from the Fireteam.

If the booted player violated the Xbox Community Standards or the Halo Spartan Code, select Report in the player’s Player Options menu to report their behavior to the Halo Safety team. Alternatively, submit a Report a Player ticket to provide the Halo Safety team with additional evidence of the violation(s).

Can I rejoin a CGB session that I was booted from?

If the Fireteam Leader has booted you from their Custom Game Browser session, you will not be able to rejoin that session. Access to the other sessions in the Customs Browser menu will not be affected.

To rejoin a Custom Game Browser after being booted, the Fireteam Leader or another player in the session must send the booted player a new invite. 

Halo Support is unable to reverse a Custom Game boot or reinstate access to a specific Custom Game Browser session.

How do I invite a friend to a CGB session?

To invite a friend to the Fireteam prior to joining or starting a Custom Game Browser session, follow the steps below:

  1. On the main menu, press Tab (on keyboard) or press view on the Xbox controller to open the Social menu. Alternatively, press the Social icon in the bottom right corner of the screen.
  2. Switch to the Friends or Recent tab to view Gamertags.
  3. Select the Gamertag you would like to invite to your Fireteam. This will open that player’s Player Options menu.
  4. In the Player Options menu, select Invite.
  5. If the player accepts your invitation, they will be added to your Fireteam and will appear under the Fireteam tab. If the player joins the session while a Custom Game is being setup, they will also appear in the player list on the right side of the Custom Game menu.

To invite a friend to an in-progress CGB session, ensure the session has open slots then follow the steps below:

  1. On the pause menu, press Tab (on keyboard) or press view on the Xbox controller to open the Social menu. Alternatively, press the Social icon in the bottom right corner of the screen.
  2. Switch to the Friends or Recent tab.
  3. Select the Gamertag you would like to invite to your Fireteam. This will open that player’s Player Options menu.
  4. In the Player Options menu, select Invite.
  5. If the player accepts your invitation, they will join the in-progress Custom Game.

For help adding someone’s gamertag to your friends list on your Xbox account, visit the How to add new Xbox friends article on the Xbox Support site.

How do I join my friend's CGB session?

To join a friend’s Fireteam and Custom Game Browser session, follow the steps below:

  1. On the main menu, press Tab (on keyboard) or press view on the Xbox controller to open the Social menu. Alternatively, press the Social icon in the bottom right corner of the screen.
  2. Switch to the Friends or Recent tab.
  3. Select the Gamertag of the player you would like to join. This will open that player’s Player Options menu.
  4. In the Player Options menu, select Join.
    1. If the Join option is grayed out or not present, their Fireteam may be full.
  5. If joining the player was successful, the Fireteam tab of the Social menu will now show you as a member of their Fireteam or, if they were in an in-progress Custom Game with open slots, you will load into their session.

Why can't I find the specific Custom Game I'm looking for?

The Customs Browser menu only shows Custom Games that are in-progress and can be joined immediately. This will reduce instances of joining a Custom Game Browser session then needing to wait for the Fireteam Leader to start the match. Full Custom Games will also be omitted from the Customs Browser menu.

If a specific session you are looking for is not listed in the Customs Browser menu, it may not have been started or it is already full. Use the Refresh shortcut listed along the bottom of the screen to update the session list. This may show newly created Custom Games that are now available to join.

If there are too many sessions in the Customs Browser menu to scroll through, use the Filters menu to the right of the session tiles to re-sort or narrow down the session list.

Can I earn XP or progress Challenges in CGB sessions?

Match XP and Challenge progression are only awarded in matchmaking, not Custom Games.

How do I promote someone to the Custom Game’s Fireteam Leader?

When the Fireteam Leader leaves a Custom Game, the player who has been in the session the longest amount of time will automatically become the next Fireteam Leader. If the current Fireteam Leader is leaving and would like a specific player to become the next Fireteam Leader instead, they can Promote that player using the steps below:

  1. From the pause menu, press the shortcut listed in the bottom right corner of the menu to open the Social menu.
  2. Navigate to the Fireteam tab to view the players in the Custom Game.
  3. Navigate to then select the Gamertag of the player you wish to boot.
  4. In that player's Player Options menu, select Promote to immediately transfer the Fireteam Leader role to that player.

Where can I give feedback on the Custom Game Browser?

The development team is closely monitoring player feedback on the Customs Browser. Let us know what you think by sharing feedback on the Halo Discord server.

What can I do if I’m experiencing technical issues in the Custom Game Browser?

Visit the Halo Infinite Multiplayer Known Issues article for a list of issues affecting Custom Games and the Customs Browser. The development team is aware of the issues listed there and are working to resolve them in future updates. For a full list of known issues in Halo Infinite, go to our Known Issues section.

If you are experiencing issues with the Customs Browser that is not listed in the Known Issues articles, please submit a Halo Infinite Multiplayer bug report. The Halo Support team reviews all submitted bug reports and will work with the development team to investigate issues submitted by players.

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