Following the recent Fortnite 3.5.0 update, many players are beginning to notice the “Custom Matchmaking Key” option on the game’s main menu, which is tied into hosting and joining a Fortnite private match. Epic Games hasn’t been very clear in explaining what the Fortnite Custom Matchmaking Key is used for, leading to a lot of confusion. Here’s what you need to know about Fortnite private match support and those curious Custom Matchmaking Keys.
Fortnite Private Match: Custom Matchmaking Key
Getting into a Fortnite private match requires the use of a Custom Matchmaking Key. When a private match is hosted, a sequence of digits is used to grant access to a specific group. For example, if Epic Games was hosting a private match with livestreamer Ninja, they might use “NinjaFansOnly” as the Custom Matchmaking Key. The match would then be made private for those with the Custom Matchmaking Key, and nobody else.
Using a Fortnite Custom Matchmaking Key is a great way for players with large followings to quickly set up a round. There’s no messing around with friend and game invites, or anything like that. It’s just a simple code that needs to be shared and then the lobby will start filling up.
Fortnite Private Match: Can Anyone Set Up a Private Match?
Unfortunately, for those of us “normal” players who just want to host a Fortnite private match with friends, Epic Games hasn’t yet opened up the ability for players to create Custom Matchmaking Keys. There have been occasions where the developer has provided a Custom Matchmaking Key to a YouTube/Twitch streamer, which results in a good bit of promotion, but regular players haven’t yet had that luxury.
It’s possible that Epic Games is testing out Fortnite private match support on a smaller scale before rolling it out to the masses. Here’s hoping we’ll all be able to create custom matchmaking keys soon!
Fortnite Controversies
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Fortnite Controversies: Ninja Uses the 'N Word'
Fresh off of his stream with Drake, Ninja appeared on a live stream and used the "n-word" while rapping. After being called out, Ninja apologized and said: "There was no mal intent (I wasn’t even trying to say the word-I fumbled lyrics and got tongue tied in the worst possible way)." Read more. -
It's Banned in Schools
Fortnite has been banned in schools, with the mobile version of the game causing kids to pay more attention to Battle Royale than their studies. However, clever schoolchildren found a way around this, developing their own primitive versions of the game using the web-based platform Scratch. Read more. -
Sony Doesn't Want Fortnite Cross-Play
Sony doesn't want PS4 owners to be able to play with those on Xbox One and PC, with Fortnite continuing to be a prime example of this. Not only can owners of both consoles hop into a game with one another, but Sony has also blocked V-Bucks from being shared across platforms. Read more. -
Drake Plays Fortnite
Celebrity involvement in video games is always controversial, though Drake and Ninja's joint stream on Twitch was mostly praised for introducing a wider audience to the game. Ninja would later find himself embroiled in controversy, but this was a cool moment while it lasted. Read more. -
PUBG Devs Hate It
PUBG dev Bluehole isn't a fan of Fortnite, with the studio previously criticizing the battle royale game for being too derivative. This led to the (false) rumor circulating that Fortnite is shutting down as a result of a lawsuit from PUBG's creators. Read more. -
Tilted Towers Needs a Replacement
Tilted Towers has become such a popular landing location that players have grown to hate it. This has led to multiple fake locations being drawn up by hoaxers, though Epic has yet to officially announce a replacement for the area. Read more. -
Fortnite Becomes the Biggest Game on Twitch
League of Legends had dominated Twitch for years, though Fortnite knocked the game off its pedestal back in March, becoming the most-viewed game on the site. Its popularity shows no signs of declining. Read more. -
Free V-Bucks! (But Not Really)
V-Bucks are Fortnite's in-game currency, used to buy cosmetic items and passes that unlock the game's challenges. With Fortnite being so popular, many sources claim to offer these for free, with them more often than not proven to be scams. Many have fallen for these scams, and they continue to be a problem in the game's community. Read more. -
It Only Took Two Months to Make
Fortnite is one of the biggest games in the world, though its battle royale mode was something of a last-ditch effort to revitalize the base game. This is evidenced by the fact that it only took two months to make. Read more.
