You want to play community-made Halo Infinite custom games and Forge maps on your Xbox Series X|S or Xbox One in 2026, but the menus have changed since you last played. Here’s the short answer: open the Community tab to browse Forge creations, bookmark the ones you like, then load them through Custom Games or join someone else’s lobby through the Custom Games Browser.
You won’t need to buy Halo Infinite to do any of this — multiplayer, Forge, and Custom Games are free to download and play. Microsoft has exempted free-to-play games from its paid online-multiplayer requirement on Xbox since 2021, and Halo Infinite’s current Xbox store listing doesn’t state a subscription requirement; if your console prompts you for an Xbox Game Pass Essential (formerly Core) plan, check the listing for your region.
Is Halo Infinite Multiplayer and Forge Still Supported in 2026?
Yes. Halo Infinite multiplayer, including Forge and Custom Games, is still free to download and play on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, with cross-platform play between consoles and PC (Xbox store listing, retrieved October 24, 2026). The game and the download itself cost nothing. Online play on console doesn’t need a Game Pass plan either: the official Halo Support install guide states that Game Pass is not required to play Halo Infinite multiplayer.
If you see “Online console multiplayer” on the Halo Infinite store page, that line is in the Game Pass plan comparison panel, which lists what each plan includes for paid games; it isn’t a requirement for Halo Infinite itself. The listing, checked October 26, 2026, shows the game as Free+ with online multiplayer (2-24) and no paid-subscription note, which paid games’ listings carry. That matches Microsoft’s April 2021 change, which unlocked online multiplayer in free-to-play games for all Xbox players.
Halo Studios described Operation: Infinite, released on November 18, 2025, as the last major content update planned for Halo Infinite, with the game moving to ongoing support afterward. Halo Studios said the game would continue to get challenges, ranked seasons, and community events.
Check Halo Waypoint and Halo Support for current official announcements. The creation tools have also picked up additional scripting and input options over time (Halo Waypoint – Forge), and community Forge creations remain available in the in-game browser.
What Is Forge (and How Does It Connect to Custom Games)?
Forge is Halo Infinite’s built-in map and mode editor. It’s free to every player (Halo Infinite Forge Overview). Creators use it to build remakes of classic Halo arenas or new game types with their own scripted rules and AI bots.
When a creator publishes a map or mode, it shows up in the Community tab, where you can search custom game files. From there, any player can find it, bookmark it, and load it into a private or public Custom Game.
Three surfaces matter for this guide:
| Surface | What it does |
|---|---|
| Community tab | Browse recommended and popular Forge creations |
| Custom Game Browser (labeled Customs Browser in some menus) | Join public custom lobbies that other players are already hosting |
| Custom Games / Create Match | Host your own match with any mode-and-map pairing, including bookmarked content |
Before You Begin
Make sure you have:
- An Xbox One or Xbox Series X|S console (or a supported Windows PC)
- An active internet connection (Wi-Fi works; a wired connection can help if your lobby is unstable)
- A signed-in Xbox / Microsoft account
- Halo Infinite multiplayer installed and fully updated
- An Xbox Wireless Controller (or keyboard and mouse on PC)
- No Xbox Game Pass plan: Halo Infinite multiplayer is free-to-play, so online play on console doesn’t require one (see above)
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Device | Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, or PC |
| Cost | Multiplayer, Forge, and Custom Games are free to download and play online on Xbox and PC. As a free-to-play game, Halo Infinite multiplayer doesn’t need a Game Pass plan for online play. |
| Account | Xbox / Microsoft account. Bookmarks and My Files appear to be saved to your signed-in profile, based on Halo Support’s menu guide |
| Cross-play | Xbox consoles and PC can share custom lobbies |
| Optional | Cloud play: the Xbox Store lists Halo Infinite as cloud playable with Xbox Game Pass Premium and Ultimate, while Game Pass Essential requires a game purchase to stream. PC Game Pass also includes Halo Infinite. |
Exact current Xbox Game Pass pricing and regional availability aren’t covered here. Check your account and the current store listing if you’re unsure which tier you have or need.
Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1: Install Halo Infinite Multiplayer
The multiplayer component is a separate free download. You don’t need to buy the campaign to use Forge or Custom Games. Downloading and playing is free. Online play, including hosting or joining Custom Games with others, is free too. On Xbox, the Halo Support install guide says Game Pass is not required for multiplayer. On PC, online play has never needed a subscription.
On Xbox (console)
- Press the Xbox button and open the Microsoft Store app.
- Search for Halo Infinite.
- Open the listing and select the install option for the free multiplayer component.
- Wait for the download to finish. Then open My games & apps and confirm that Halo Infinite has no pending update.
Expected result: Halo Infinite appears in My games & apps and launches to the main menu.
On the web
- Open the official Halo Infinite store page on xbox.com in your browser.
- Sign in with the same Microsoft account you use on your console.
- Use the listing’s get or install option to add the free multiplayer to your library. You can also queue the download to your console from there.
- On PC, install the free multiplayer through the Xbox app (Microsoft Store) or Steam.
Expected result: Halo Infinite shows up in your library on the console or in the Xbox app on Windows.
Step 2: Sign In and Reach the Main Menu
- Launch Halo Infinite.
- Make sure you’re signed in to the Xbox profile you want your bookmarks saved to. On a shared household console, this matters: bookmarks and My Files appear to belong to that profile, so confirm this on your own setup if you’re unsure.
- Let any in-game update finish before going further.
Expected result: You land on the main menu and can see the top-row tabs, including Community.
Step 3: Browse Forge Creations in the Community Tab
- On the main menu, move to the Community tab.
- Open the browse view of published creations. Halo Support’s menu guide describes how this area is organized (Guide to Halo Infinite Menus).
- Scroll through the recommended and popular Forge maps and modes.
- Select any creation to open its detail screen.
Expected result: The detail screen shows the map or mode name, creator, and available actions.
Step 4: Bookmark a Forge Map or Mode
Bookmarking saves a creation so it appears as an option when you set up a Custom Game. You won’t have to search for it again.
- On the creation’s detail screen, find the bookmark control. If the caption differs from what’s described here, look for the bookmark option in the action list or button prompts.
- Press the button shown for that control.
- Check that the screen now shows the item as bookmarked.
- Repeat for each map or mode you want to keep. Bookmarking a map and a matching mode helps if the creator designed them to be used together.
Expected result: The creation is saved to your profile and shows up later in Custom Games setup.
Tip: Your own Forge creations don’t need bookmarks. Saved or published files appear under My Files, which you can pick directly when building a match.
Step 5: Join a Public Custom Game in the Custom Games Browser
Use this route when you want to play right away and someone else is already hosting.
- From the main menu, open Community > Customs Browser. Halo Support calls this the Custom Browser or Custom Game Browser. Depending on your menu layout, custom games are also listed under Play > Custom Game.
- Look over the list of public lobbies other players are hosting.
- Use the filter and sort controls at the top of the browser to narrow the list. Labels can change, so use whatever options appear on your screen.
- Highlight a session to see its details.
- Select the session, or use its Join shortcut. No invite is needed: you join that session’s fireteam directly.
Expected result: You join the host’s session. If their match is already underway, you may load straight into it rather than waiting in a pre-match lobby.
Step 6: Host a Private Custom Game With Friends
Custom Games lets you pair modes and maps freely, including combinations matchmaking never uses. Some Forge creations only work with the mode, settings, or player count their creator specifies, so check the creation’s description first.
- From the main menu, open Custom Games.
- Select Create Match.
- Choose a mode. Bookmarked community modes appear among the options, alongside standard modes.
- Choose a map. Pick a bookmarked Forge map or one from My Files.
- Adjust match settings if the creator’s description asks for specific options.
- Use the lobby’s invite option to bring friends in. Friends on Xbox and PC can join the same lobby thanks to cross-play.
- When everyone is in, start the match from the lobby.
Expected result: Your group loads into the chosen map and mode together.
Tip: Clear voice chat helps when friends are coordinating a custom mode with unusual rules. An Xbox Wireless Headset is worth having on the host’s side.
Configuration: Common Settings and Patterns
- Add bots for testing or small groups. Forge supports AI bots (Forge Overview). Bots let you fill a match when only two friends show up, or try out a map before game night.
- Pair maps with their intended modes. Some creations use scripting or other advanced Forge features. They only work as designed with the right mode and settings. Read the creator’s description on the detail screen first.
- Use My Files for your own work. If you build in Forge, save and publish from Forge. Then select your file from My Files in Create Match.
- Pick a profile for the household. On a shared console, have one person act as the regular host so the bookmarks live on one account.
Tips and Troubleshooting
Fix #1: Check Your Installation and Sign-In
- Confirm the Halo Infinite multiplayer component is installed and fully updated in My games & apps.
- Confirm you’re signed in to your Xbox account.
- Confirm your console has an active internet connection under Settings > General > Network settings.
If you can’t get into Forge or Custom Games at all, start with these three common checks, then verify Xbox service status, account restrictions, and any pending game update.
Fix #2: Re-Bookmark a Missing Map
If a bookmarked map doesn’t appear in Create Match:
- Return to the Community tab.
- Find the map and open its detail screen.
- Use the bookmark control again and confirm it shows as bookmarked.
- Reopen Custom Games > Create Match and check the map list.
Fix #3: Confirm the Creation Was Published
If a map someone told you about doesn’t show up anywhere:
- Ask the creator whether they published it or only saved it privately. Saved-only files stay in their My Files.
- If it’s your own map, open Forge and make sure you published it. Saving alone keeps it private.
- Search the Community tab again once it’s published.
Fix #4: Match the Creator’s Settings
If a community creation plays differently than expected:
- Reread the description on its detail screen.
- Add bots if the mode is built around AI opponents.
- Change the Custom Game settings the creator lists, then restart the match.
Fix #5: Troubleshoot Your Xbox Network Connection
If you can’t join or host a custom lobby with friends, a common cause is your console’s network or NAT type (how your router lets other players connect to you). Service outages, account restrictions, or a pending game update can also block lobbies, so check those too. On console, go to Settings > General > Network settings to test your Xbox network connection and see how to change your NAT type on Xbox Series X|S. Switching the host console from Wi-Fi to a wired Ethernet connection is also worth trying.
Wrapping Up
You can now browse Forge creations in the Community tab, bookmark the good ones, drop into public lobbies through the Custom Games Browser, and host your own private match — all without buying the game. The bookmark-then-Create Match routine gives you a custom lobby with the map-and-mode pairing you want, within each creation’s own requirements. Halo Infinite has enough community-made content to keep a friend group busy, and it costs nothing to try.
| Step | Action | Applies To |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Install free multiplayer | Xbox, web/PC |
| 2 | Sign in to the right profile | Xbox, PC |
| 3 | Browse the Community tab | Xbox, PC |
| 4 | Bookmark maps and modes | Xbox, PC |
| 5 | Join via Custom Games Browser | Xbox, PC |
| 6 | Host via Custom Games > Create Match | Xbox, PC |