Halo Infinite gives you two ways to make a custom multiplayer mode: edit the rules of an existing mode in Custom Games → Mode Editor, or build a more original ruleset in Forge with a Mode Brain and publish it as a Mode Prefab. Publishing makes the asset available through Halo Infinite’s file-sharing tools; it does not automatically open a live match. To let other players join immediately, host a Custom Game Browser session with lobby privacy set to Open and start the match.
The instructions below apply specifically to Halo Infinite, whose Forge is included with its free-to-play multiplayer experience. See the official Halo Infinite overview for the product scope.
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Choose the right creation route
Your starting point determines what kind of mode you can make and how players will use it. The Mode Editor is the quick route for changing rules that an existing base mode already exposes. Forge is the route for building a custom multiplayer experience with a Mode Brain, then packaging that logic as a Mode Prefab.
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| Route | What you start with | What you can produce | Best use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Custom Games Mode Editor | An existing game mode, or a Minigame variant | A saved mode variant with adjusted match, sandbox, HUD, health and damage, movement, bot and mode-specific settings | Changing rules without building a complete rules system |
| Forge Mode Brain | A game-mode variant as a base, or a Minigame variant for a mode built from scratch | A published Mode Prefab that functions as a mode in Custom Games | Creating novel multiplayer logic and reusable mode behavior |
The available controls and their defaults depend on the base mode you select. Halo Support’s game-mode guide documents the Mode Editor categories; Content Update 29 documents the Mode Brain and Mode Prefab workflow.
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Make a mode variant with the Custom Games Mode Editor
1. Open the editor
- Launch Halo Infinite.
- Select Custom Games.
- Choose Create Game.
- Open Mode Editor.
For a straightforward variation, select an existing 343 Industries mode and edit the settings exposed for it. A mode’s available options are not universal: select the base mode first, then review the controls that appear.
2. Set the rules that matter to your idea
The editor can expose settings in several groups:
- Match: the match rules and win conditions made available by the selected mode.
- Sandbox: weapon, equipment and other gameplay-rule adjustments offered by that mode.
- HUD: the information players can see while playing.
- Health and damage: survivability and damage behavior exposed by the variant.
- Movement: movement-related rules available to the selected base.
- Bots: bot-related settings where supported.
- Mode-specific options: controls that exist only for that particular mode.
Do not assume that a setting shown for one base mode will be present in another. If your idea needs logic that these controls cannot express, use Forge instead.
3. Use a Minigame variant when you need a blank starting point
Halo Support gives this menu path for creating a Minigame variant: Custom Games → Create Game → Mode Editor → 343 Industries → Minigame. Save the resulting variant; it is stored under My Files. A Minigame variant can also be used as the starting point for a Forge mode built from scratch.
4. Save and test the variant
Save after meaningful changes, then run the variant in a Custom Game on a suitable map. Test the win condition, spawn behavior, damage and movement settings with the number of players your design expects. A saved variant is an asset; it is not a live session, so friends cannot join it until you either invite them to a Custom Game or host it through the Custom Game Browser.
Build a custom mode in Forge with Mode Brain
1. Start a Forge session
From the Play tab, choose Forge, then select a canvas or an existing map. Forge lobbies run on dedicated servers and require an online connection. The official Forge overview describes this as the starting point for creating and publishing Forge content.
2. Decide whether to adapt or start from scratch
A game-mode variant can be the basis for a Mode Prefab when you want to extend an established ruleset. A Minigame variant can provide the starting point for a mode designed from the ground up. This choice affects the amount of existing behavior you inherit before adding your own logic.
3. Add and configure a Mode Brain
In the Forge session, use the Mode Brain object to construct the multiplayer mode. The Mode Brain is the Forge object associated with the mode’s behavior; it is the foundation for publishing the result as a Mode Prefab. Build the rules, objectives and interactions your concept requires, then test the mode repeatedly on the map and with the intended player roles.
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Forge’s creation tools and visual scripting can be extensive. Keep a written checklist of required objectives and test one rule at a time so that a failure in one interaction does not look like a problem with the entire mode.
4. Save the Forge file deliberately
Forge does not guarantee an autosave after an unexpected termination. A crash, server crash, lost service or Xbox network connection, or power loss can discard work that has not been saved. Save before changing major systems and again before leaving the session.
Plan the mode before you build
Write a short design brief before opening Forge. Define the objective, how a team or player scores, what ends the round, and what should happen when a player joins late or is eliminated. This gives you a testable target instead of a collection of disconnected devices and settings.
- Choose the foundation: identify the existing game-mode variant you will adapt, or confirm that a Minigame variant is the better blank starting point.
- List required behavior: separate rules that Mode Editor already supports from behavior that requires Mode Brain and Forge logic.
- Define the intended audience: note the expected team arrangement, approximate player count and whether observers matter. The Custom Game Browser supports up to 24 players and 4 Observers per session.
- Record the test map: a mode can work on one layout and fail on another because objectives, spawns or playable space differ.
This planning step also helps you choose the publishing description and tags later. A clear objective and player arrangement are more useful to someone browsing a file than a clever title alone.
Publish a saved Forge file
For a saved Forge file, Halo Support documents this publishing path:
- Open Community from the main menu.
- Choose My Files.
- Select the saved Forge file.
- Open Details, then choose Version History.
- Select the version you want other players to receive and choose Publish.
Only one version of a file can be published at a time. If you edit the file later, those changes remain private until you publish the new version through the file’s version history. Admins and co-owners can see version details and manage file details.
Publishing a Mode Prefab
Content Update 29 added the ability to build a multiplayer mode with Mode Brain and publish it as a Mode Prefab. Once published, a Mode Prefab can be searched, bookmarked and rated by other players. It functions as a mode in Custom Games and can be used on any map file.
The update notes establish the Mode Prefab feature but do not document every current screen in the publishing interface. Use the file and version workflow above for saved Forge files, while checking the live interface for the exact controls presented for a Mode Prefab. Do not assume that every asset type exposes identical detail or version screens.
File details and copy protection
For published Forge maps, admins and co-owners can manage the name, description, tags, screenshots, copy-protection setting and collaborators. Copy protection is unchecked by default; enabling it prevents other players from cloning a published map. The Forge overview describes this setting for maps, so do not automatically assume that a Mode Prefab has the same control.
The same overview notes that, at the time of its guidance, screenshots for a published Forge file could be uploaded only on Xbox consoles. PC creators could use an Xbox console for that upload. This is interface-dependent and may change; check the current file-details screen before planning a publishing workflow around it.
Find and use a published mode
Publishing makes the asset available through Halo Infinite’s file-sharing and content-browsing features. Community areas include tiles for Recommended, Popular Maps, Popular Modes, Popular Prefabs and Browse All. Browse All can search names, tags or keywords.
Use a clear name and descriptive tags that identify the objective, player count and unusual rules. Those details help friends find the correct file among similarly named variants. A bookmark lets a player return to a mode without searching again.
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Publishing a file does not invite players, reserve a server or start a match. It only makes the content available for selection and discovery.
Host a live session in the Custom Game Browser
The Custom Game Browser lists active sessions, not merely published files. To make your custom mode joinable:
- Open a Custom Game lobby.
- Open the lobby options and set Privacy to Open.
- Select the map file and the saved or bookmarked mode you want to run.
- Start the match.
- Wait until the match is in progress; only then does the session appear in the browser.
Forge maps and modes are supported. The leader can use content that is saved or bookmarked. The documented browser limit is up to 24 players and 4 Observers per session. These are session capacity limits, not a guarantee that a particular mode will play well at every size.
If friends cannot find the listing, first verify that the match has actually started and that privacy is Open. A published mode by itself will not appear as a live browser session.
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When you publish a new version, keep the file name and description clear about what changed. Players who bookmarked the asset may still be using an older session or a previously selected version; tell them when a rule, objective or compatibility change requires reselecting the file.
Because only one version is published at once, version history is the control point for what new players receive. Save the Forge file, open its details from My Files, select the intended version and publish it again after testing.
Before publishing an update, run the exact version you selected in Version History. Check the objective, scoring, reset behavior, spawn locations and any unusual movement or damage rule. Then verify the published copy from a separate Custom Game setup rather than relying only on the private working file.
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- Software Main Type: Game
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- Software Name: Halo Infinite Standard Edition
- ESRB Rating: Rating Pending
- Single Player Supported: Yes
Cost, access and technical requirements
Forge is part of Halo Infinite’s free-to-play multiplayer experience. The official workflow does not identify a separate Forge purchase or physical product as necessary. You do need an online connection: Forge lobbies are hosted on dedicated servers, and a disconnected session can interrupt work or prevent other players from joining.
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Permissions, moderation and reliability
Protect your account and collaborators
Only admins and co-owners can manage the version details described by Halo Support. Add collaborators deliberately, and confirm that the correct person is editing the file before publishing. A published file’s name, description, tags and other details affect how the community identifies it.
Follow platform and Halo rules
User-generated content must follow the Xbox Community Standards and the Halo Spartan Code. Content that violates those rules can be subject to enforcement. Avoid offensive names, abusive imagery, harassment mechanics and designs intended to disrupt other players’ sessions.
Plan for failures
- Save before leaving Forge or making a risky structural change.
- Keep a simple written record of the last tested version and its intended behavior.
- After a crash or disconnect, reopen My Files and confirm that the expected version exists before continuing.
- Test the published version, not only the private working copy, before sharing its name widely.
Troubleshoot common publishing and joining problems
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| The mode is not visible in the Custom Game Browser | The file was published, but no live session is running, or the lobby is not Open | Set Privacy to Open and start the match; the listing appears only after the match is in progress. |
| Friends see an older ruleset | A newer Forge version was saved but not published | Open Community → My Files → Details → Version History, select the tested version and choose Publish. |
| Work disappeared after a crash or disconnect | The Forge session ended before a deliberate save | Reopen My Files and verify the last saved version; rebuild anything that was never saved. |
| The Publish button still appears after publishing | A Forge interface issue documented in the August 5, 2025 Known Issues list | Check the current Forge Known Issues page before treating the display as proof that publishing failed. |
| A file temporarily appears Private | A dated Known Issues entry reported a file-details display problem | Return to My Files, reopen Details, and check the status again. The workaround was documented for that issue and may change as the interface is updated. |
Known Issues are version-sensitive. The list updated August 5, 2025, so use it as dated guidance rather than a promise that every listed behavior still exists.
Which workflow should you use?
- Choose Mode Editor when the concept is a variation on an existing mode and the available settings already express the rules you need.
- Choose Forge with Mode Brain when the mode needs original logic, a new objective structure or a reusable Mode Prefab.
- Choose a Minigame variant when you want a supported blank starting point for a mode built from scratch.
- Publish the file when you want people to discover, bookmark and select the content.
- Host an Open Custom Game Browser session when you want people to join a match that is live now.
Halo Support does not provide ticket-based instruction for creating Forge maps or visual scripting; its Forge guidance directs creators to the Halo Discord community for discussion. For menu labels, publishing behavior and Known Issues, consult the current official pages linked above because interface details can change between updates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make a custom Halo mode without Forge?
Yes. In Halo Infinite, use Custom Games → Create Game → Mode Editor and adjust the settings exposed by an existing base mode. Use Forge when the idea needs custom logic that the editor does not provide.
How do I create a mode from scratch?
Create and save a Minigame variant through Custom Games → Create Game → Mode Editor → 343 Industries → Minigame, then use that variant as the starting point for a Forge Mode Brain workflow.
Does publishing automatically let friends join?
No. Publishing makes the file discoverable. For a live listing, set Custom Game lobby Privacy to Open, select the map and mode, start the match, and wait until it is in progress.
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The documented limit is up to 24 players and 4 Observers per session.
Why do friends see an old version of my mode?
Only one file version is published at a time. Save the update, open Community → My Files → Details → Version History, select the tested version and publish it.
What should I do if Forge work disappears?
Forge does not autosave after every unexpected termination. Reopen My Files to confirm the last deliberate save; anything never saved may need to be rebuilt.
The Bottom Line
For a rules tweak, use Halo Infinite’s Mode Editor. For original multiplayer logic, build with Forge’s Mode Brain and publish a Mode Prefab. Save deliberately, publish the tested version through My Files and Version History, then host an Open Custom Game Browser match if you want players to join immediately.
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