How To Create Custom Game In Overwatch

Custom Game was an Overwatch's game mode, which can be accessed from the Play menu. Custom Game allowed players to invite friends to a private match with their own rule set.

Custom Game mode was retired on 27 February, 2017 and succeeded by Game Browser, which was added in Arcade.

1 Details
2 Settings
- 2.1 Rule Set
- 2.2 Map Options
- 2.3 Maps
- 2.4 Hero Options
- 2.5 Heroes
- 2.6 Gameplay Options
- 2.7 Team Options
3 Trivia
4 Patch changes

Details

When accessing Custom Game, the game will display a lobby, which has both team slots, spectator slots and next match's map. There are also button for Settings, Add Players, Add AI and Play. The Custom Game creator can change name of each team by pressing the Edit button, and confirm by pressing Enter.

In the Team slots, there is a drop-down menu for selecting between View Career Profile, Remove, or Swap Team. There are also options for changing spectator's types for spectators' drop-down menu and option for editing bot for AI players' drop-down menu.
- Choosing Swap Team and then click on any vacancy slot will swap that person to another team slot, even a Spectator slot. This option is only available for the Custom Game creator.
- Choosing between Spectate Team 1, Spectate Team 2 or Move to Global will respectively make that spectator spectate only team 1, or 2, or globally observe the game from both team's perspectives. This option is only available for the Custom Game creator.
  - A spectator is spectating team 1 can be only swapped to team 2, and vice versa.
- Remove option can be used for removing players and AI. This option is only available for the Custom Game creator and it cannot be used to remove themselves.
- Choosing Edit Bots will open a small window, which shows the option to edit the hero, and their difficulties. This option is only available for the Custom Game creator.
Choosing Add Player will open a small window, which shows all online friend players. This option is only for the Custom Game creator. Then the creator may invite friends to the Custom Game, by pre-choosing their team, or make them a spectator. There is an option to add players through their BattleTag.
Choosing Add AI will open a small window, in which show the options to fill the vacancy slots by AI heroes. This option is only available for the Custom Game creator.
- The creator is able to choose hero (McCree, Soldier: 76, Reaper, Sombra, Bastion, Mei, Torbjörn, Roadhog, Zarya, Ana, Lúcio, Zenyatta or recommended hero), the difficulty (easy, medium or hard), the number of hero (from 1 to max, fills all the vacancy slot) and the team for AI.
- AI cannot be added to spectator slots.
- Add AI option will not visible for 1v1 Mystery Duel and Elimination 3v3 rule set.
The Setting option is using to set the rule for the game. It includes Rule Set, Map Options, Maps, Hero Options, Heroes, Gameplay Options, and Team Options.
- Only the Custom Game creator can access and adjust those settings, other players are able to access the setting but all setting options will be locked.

When in game, the creator can go back to the lobby and manipulate all these function, but the effect only take place after the game is finish. The creator can terminate the match early and all players will return to the lobby.

Settings

This session is the list of all the setting options.

Rule Set

The match can be chosen to follow the rule of: Quick Play, Competitive, Skirmish, 1v1 Mystery Duel, Elimination 3v3.
- Quick Play: 6 vs. 6 in a match of one game. If there is a sufficient number of players, the game will start.
- Competitive: 6 vs. 6 in a match of multiple games, follow the rule of Competitive Play.
- Skirmish: Any number of players in a game without the need of balancing the team.
- 1v1 Mystery Duel: A best-of-9 match between 2 players, follow the rule of Mystery Duel.
- Elimination 3v3: A best-of-5 match between two teams of 6 players, follow the rule of Elimination.

Map Options

Map Rotation: It is for adjusting the rule of the rotation of match. It is not available for 1v1 Mystery Duel and Elimination 3v3 rule set.
- After a Mirror Match: Maps will be changed after a mirror match. A mirror match is composed of two game, in which two team switch side after a game in Escort, Assault, or Assault/Escort map. Control map don't need for a mirror match, so choosing the option "After a Mirror Match" in this case will be the same as "After a Game".
- After a Game: Maps will be changed after a single game.
- Paused: Pause the rotation, and repeat one map for next match.
Map Control Point: This option only affects Control map. It is not available for 1v1 Mystery Duel and Elimination 3v3 rule set. There are 4 options:
- Choosing All will make the game follows normal Control map rule, which will interchange between 3 locations of a map.
- Choosing First, Second, or Third will force the game to take place at one specific location for all games of a match.
Map Order: Determining the order of a rotation of maps. It is not available for 1v1 Mystery Duel and Elimination 3v3 rule set.
- Random: Randomly using a map from the list for the next map.
- List Order: Using the order from the list for the next map.
- Single Map: Only use a single map from the list. Choosing this option will force the Maps list to turn "On" only one map. If you turn another map "On", the currently "On" map will be turned "Off".
Return to Lobby: Choosing the condition to return to lobby.
- Never: Players will continue to the next match without return to the lobby
- After a Game: Players will return to the lobby after a single game.
- After a Mirror Match: Players will return to the lobby after a mirror match. A mirror match is composed of two game, in which two team switch side after a game in Escort, Assault, or Assault/Escort map. Control map don't need for a mirror match, so choosing the option "After a Mirror Match" in this case will be the same as "After a Game".

Maps

The list of all maps with the options to turn them "On" or "Off". When a map is "Off", it will not be included in the rotation of maps.
- There are buttons to quickly turn all the maps "On" or "Off"
- As mentioned above, if you choose Single Map option in Map Order, it will force the list to turn at most one map "On". If you turn another map "On", the currently "On" map will be turned "Off".
It is not available for 1v1 Mystery Duel and Elimination 3v3 rule set.
Within the time of seasonal events, reskin maps will be included here.

Hero Options

Hero Selection Limit: Limiting the selection of hero in game. The limitation will not affect AI, which means the limit is only put on players. It is not available for 1v1 Mystery Duel and Elimination 3v3 rule set.
- None: No limit put on selection.
- 1 Per Team: There will be no two identical heroes in the same team.
- 2 Per Team: There will be no more than two identical heroes in the same team.
- 1 Per Game: There will be no two identical heroes among 2 teams.
- 2 Per Game: There will be no more than two identical heroes among 2 teams.
Role Selection Limit: Limiting the selection of roles in game. The limitation will not affect AI, which means the limit is only put on players. It is not available for 1v1 Mystery Duel and Elimination 3v3 rule set.
- None: No limit put on selection.
- 2 of Each Role Per Team: There will be no more than two heroes that have the same roles in the same team.
Allow Hero Switching: Turn it "Off" to forbid switching heroes when players go back in the spawn room in mid-game; switching hero before the match begins is still allowed. It is not available for 1v1 Mystery Duel and Elimination 3v3 rule set.
Respawn as Random Hero: Turn it "On" for every time a player respawns, they are forced to play a random hero (it can be the same hero as before they died). It is not available for 1v1 Mystery Duel and Elimination 3v3 rule set.

Heroes

The list of all heroes with the options to turn them "On" or "Off". When a hero is "Off", they will not be included when choosing.
- There are buttons to quickly turn all the heroes "On" or "Off"
It is not available for 1v1 Mystery Duel and Elimination 3v3 rule set.

Gameplay Options

High Bandwidth: Used to set up High Bandwidth game.
Control Game Mode Format: It is not available for 1v1 Mystery Duel and Elimination 3v3 rule set.
- Best of 1: Only one Control game played to decide the result.
- Best of 3: Three Control game played, winner team is the team reaches 2 Wins first.
- Best of 5: Five Control game played, winner team is the team reaches 3 Wins first.
Health Modifier: Setting Health for every hero to 25%, 50%, 75%, 100%, 150%, 200%, or 300% of normal Health.
Damage Modifier: Setting damage for every hero's ability which can inflict damage to 25%, 50%, 75%, 100%, 150%, or 200% of normal damage.
Healing Modifier: Setting the effect of healing for every hero's ability which can heal, self-heal, fix to 25%, 50%, 75%, 100%, 150%, or 200% of normal healing's effect.
Ultimate Charge Rate Modifier: Setting the gain of Ultimate Charge for every hero to 50%, 75%, 100%, 150%, or 200% of normal Ultimate Charge rate.
Respawn Time Modifier: Setting the respawn time for every hero to 50%, 75%, 100%, 150%, or 200% of normal respawn time (which is 10 seconds).
Ability Cooldown Modifier: Setting the cooldown time for every hero's ability which has a cooldown to 0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, 100%, 150%, or 200% of normal cooldown time
Disable Skins: Turn it "On" to disable all skin except Default skin for every hero.
Disable Health Bars: Turn it "On" to disable Health Bar on the HUD.
Disable Kill Cam: Turn it "On" to disable the kill cam after being killed. It is not available for 1v1 Mystery Duel and Elimination 3v3 rule set.
Disable Kill Feed: Turn it "On" to disable the kill feed on the HUD after killing.
Headshots Only: Turn it "On" to let only headshot inflict damage. Any other shot is counted as a miss. It is not available for 1v1 Mystery Duel and Elimination 3v3 rule set.

Team Options

Team Balancing: Allowing the computer to decide the balance of team set up. There are only two options: Off and Automatic-Random. Switch to Automatic-Random to turn this option on. After a trigger the computer will calculate, and make players switch side if necessary.
When Balancing Occurs: Choosing the trigger for Team Balancing function. This option only is enabled when you choose Automatic-Random in Team Balancing.
- After a Game: After playing one game, the trigger will happen.
- After a Mirror Match: After playing one mirror match, the trigger will happen. A mirror match is composed of two game, in which two team switch side after a game in Escort, Assault, or Assault/Escort map. Control map don't need for a mirror match, so choosing the option "After a Mirror Match" in this case will be the same as "After a Game".

Trivia

An example of the naming of Soldier: 76 in a Custom match.

When multiple AI Soldier: 76s are on one game in a Custom Game, the number in his name will count up for each one, i.e. Soldier: 77, Soldier: 78, etc.
The scoreboard and medal statistic only compare and applied for player-controlled heroes, not for AI heroes.

Patch changes

February 28, 2017Patch:Custom Game retired.
January 24, 2017Patch:Fixed a bug that prevented the Roadhog bot from being able to hook players through Reinhardt's shield. Fixed a bug that allowed the Sombra bot to hack through barriers. Fixed a bug that made the Torbjörn bot unresponsive after placing a turret.
December 13, 2016Patch:Bots are no longer able to use abilities or attack enemies after a Control match has ended. Console only: Fixed a bug that prevented Ana from being selected in 1v1 matches.
December 13, 2016Patch:Players can now select the 1v1 Mystery Duel and 3v3 Elimination game modes from the Custom Game menu.
November 15, 2016Patch:The number of observer slots in Custom Games has been increased from 6 to 12. Fixed a bug that caused McCree bots to Combat Roll into the well on Ilios. Fixed a bug that could cause bots to get stuck in a wall near objective B on Temple of Anubis. Fixed a bug that prevented bots from moving through certain locations on Volskaya Industries. Fixed a bug that occasionally produced incorrectly colored health bars when spectating Custom Games.
October 11, 2016Patch:Team names can now be edited in custom games. Added Map Control Point option. Added Hollywood (Halloween) map. Custom Games can now be paused. Spectators are now able to see the Assemble Heroes countdown timer on all maps during a Custom Game.
September 1, 2016Patch:Added Torbjörn as an AI-controlled hero. Fixed a bug in the Custom Game settings preventing the Ability Cooldown modifier from affecting Ana. Fixed a bug causing players to incorrectly see gains in experience points when completing Custom Games. Fixed a bug that caused heroes to die when first spawned in a custom game if Health and Damage modifiers were used simultaneously. Fixed a bug that could cause AI Bastion to become stuck, continuously healing himself in the spawn area. Fixed a bug preventing AI Torbjörn from placing his turret in viable locations. Fixed a bug preventing the hero list in Custom Game settings from being organized alphabetically. The spectate option now becomes unavailable (the button will be greyed out) when all spectator slots have been filled in a Custom Game lobby.
August 2, 2016Patch:Added Lúcio as an AI hero.; Fixed a bug that caused Custom Games to ignore the "Return to Lobby" setting when the game mode was set to Competitive; AI: Fixed an issue hindering Ana from restoring allies to full health; AI: Fixed an issue allowing Reaper to use Wraith Form to escape in situations where he should be stunned.
July 19, 2016Patch:Added Ana as an AI hero.
June 28, 2016Patch:Added McCree as an AI hero. Made some improvements to how AI heroes respond to one another.
June 21, 2016Patch:Fixed a bug that would sometimes cause projectiles to hit Reinhardt instead of his Barrier Field in "High Bandwidth" Custom Game.
June 14, 2016Patch:Improved stability of the High Bandwidth option in Custom Games.
April 5, 2016 (beta)Patch:High Bandwidth Custom Game Option added.
March 25, 2016 (beta)Patch:Fixed an issue where using the Enter key in a Custom Game lobby would open Custom Game settings.
March 22, 2016 (beta)Patch:AI heroes will now melee and use Health Packs.
March 10, 2016 (beta)Patch:Custom Game host permissions should now correctly transfer to another player whenever the original host leaves.
March 8, 2016 (beta)Patch:Added the ability to invite players by using their BattleTag. Added the ability to auto-fill teams with invited players or AI. Added Zarya and Roadhog as AI opponents.
February 9, 2016 (beta)Patch:Name changed from Private Game to Custom Game. Added Map Options, Hero Options, Gameplay Options and Team Options.