How Private Matches work in Apex Legends: Create custom tournament & invite friends

Respawn Entertainment finally added private matches into Apex Legends as part of the Spellbound Collection Event. Here’s everything you need to know about the game mode.

Apex Legends Spellbound Collection Event comes chock-full of new content. The update makes quality-of-life changes, introduces new cosmetic items, balances weapons, and addresses bugs.

At the top of many players’ wish lists has been a way to host games or tournaments with friends, and their wish finally came true. Besides everything else added in the Spellbound Collection Event, the update allows players to host private matches.

Let’s jump right into the few simple steps required to host a private match in Apex Legends.

How to create a private match in Apex Legends

Here are the steps required to host a private match.

1. Click on the game mode selection button 
2. Under the Private Match tab, select create match
3. Create a tournament code 
4. Wait for players to join using the custom code 
5. Players can ready up in the lobby, which will show a green dot next to their name
6. Once every player is ready, the host can start the match 

Players can create private tournament matches with up to 60 players and five observers. The observers can see outlines of teams and players, have access to a free cam, and see scoreboards and overlays. 

Anyone with the code can join a private match. In the patch notes, the developers noted that no progression or XP could be earned through tournament matches, and cross-play is required to participate.

private match customization options

On January 10, the developers released an FAQ, answering every burning regarding private matches. Most notably, 30 players at minimum are required to start a battle royale match. This will be disappointing news for community members hoping to gather a few friends and host mini-battle royales. 

No LTM mode is available at launch, but the developers said they would provide an update if that changed in the future. On a more positive note, players can choose from all maps when setting up a game, and admins can edit settings and chat options and remove players from a lobby. 

Admins can initiate an aim assist override, which forces PC values for aim assist across the board, which will be an underrated feature. 

Players can host private matches on any platform, but the developers noted chat abilities are currently bugged on console. Respawn is working on a fix, and we will provide an update when we know more.