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Custom Fortnite matches are finally here — but not for everyone. Here's what you need to know about private matches, custom matches, and getting that coveted matchmaking key.

How to Get a Fortnite Custom Matchmaking Key

Custom Fortnite matches are finally here -- but not for everyone. Here's what you need to know about private matches, custom matches, and getting that coveted matchmaking key.
This article is over 6 years old and may contain outdated information

Fortnite‘s 3.5 Patch brought with it some major shakeups to the game. From replay mode to the Port-a-Fort grenade and new Save the World quests, we’re getting an entirely new take on the game, and that’s just the beginning. But custom, private matchmaking is what we’re really excited about. 

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Epic Games added the new feature very quietly with this update, and the developers have oddly remained totally mum on exactly how it works and who can use it. If you log into Battle Royale mode and take a look at the main menu screen, a curious addition now appears in the bottom right corner — Custom Matchmaking.

Although it seems like it might run counter to the game’s very open, large scale nature, there is finally now a method to create a Fortnite private match… for some people.

Players have been asking for this feature since 2017 in order to run private tournaments for local — or even national — events, and now it has (almost) been added to the game.

So how do you get a custom matchmaking key right now? Well, it’s complicated. 

Fortnite's main menu showing the custom matchmaking feature      Well, hello there, Mr. New Feature Guy!

Fortnite Private Match Keys Aren’t For Everyone … Yet

While having a quick, random 100-player match is kind of the whole point of Fortnite, there are times where you just want specific people to join a game, like for a a friendly roommate tournament or YouTuber gathering.

For those Twitch streamers or YouTubers with large followings, private matches offer a quick way to setup a Battle Royale round that still hits the full 100 players but has more exclusivity than an open solo or squads match.

Unfortunately, Fortnite’s custom matchmaking isn’t available for John Q. Public at the moment. You can click the option and enter a custom matchmaking key to play a game (if someone else has a private match created already), but you can’t actually create your own Fortnite custom matches quite yet.

The feature is still in testing with a small number of palyers and only select content creators, YouTubers, and Twitch streamers with large followings are being given custom matchmaking keys.

If you manage to get in a custom match, you have our congratulations (and our envy). Be sure to drop a comment and let us know how the process works… and maybe hit us up with that custom matchmaking key so we can join the fun?

While waiting for custom matchmaking to go wide and be available for all players, don’t forget you can also jump in on the replay royale contest launched this week and earn some killer Fortnite swag if you manage to capture an amazing moment.
 The grey and white box to enter your Fortnite matchmaking key One day we will make this Gameskinny private match a reality!

Are you planning on creating custom, private matches when the feature finally goes wide, or do you want to stick to the random wonderful chaos that is the typical Fortnite Battle Royale? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section.

For those still looking to complete the new Season 3, Week 8 content that arrived with the 3.5 patch, you can also check out our other latest Fortnite guides here:


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Image of Ty Arthur
Ty Arthur
Ty splits his time between writing horror fiction and writing about video games. After 25 years of gaming, Ty can firmly say that gaming peaked with Planescape Torment, but that doesn't mean he doesn't have a soft spot for games like Baldur's Gate, Fallout: New Vegas, Bioshock Infinite, and Horizon: Zero Dawn. He has previously written for GamerU and MetalUnderground. He also writes for PortalMonkey covering gaming laptops and peripherals.