Halo 5 PC Forge Tools Include Custom Games Support, But No Matchmaking

After you create a map or mode with Halo 5's Forge tools on PC, you will be able to test it out in a custom game with friends across Xbox Live. However, there will not be matchmaking support. This information comes from studio head Josh Holmes, who showed up in the Team Beyond forums (via NeoGAF) to share the details.

"We are giving players the ability to play full custom games to test their Forge creations on PC," he said. "Because Forge supports and builds upon existing Arena content, that includes the same maps and modes that are available in Arena on Xbox One.

"The intent of the experience is to allow Windows 10 users to Forge more effectively with keyboard and mouse and test their creations on PC before publishing to Xbox One," he added. "As such, there is no support for matchmaking or server browser. You will need to invite friends into a session through Xbox Live."

In another post, Holmes also confirmed that the Windows 10 and Xbox One versions of Halo 5's Forge tools will receive updates at the same time.

"The nature of the experience (shared Forge content across Xbox One and Windows 10) means we need to maintain both and keep them up to date and in sync with one another," he explained.

Holmes also offered a tease that further Halo offerings are on the way to PC in the future. He said on Twitter to a person who praised the Halo 5 Forge Windows 10 announcement, "This is just the beginning my friend. :)"

This fall's Halo Wars 2 is confirmed for Xbox One and Windows 10, but Microsoft has not announced any further Halo games for PC.

The free-to-play Halo Online is available on PC in Russia, but Microsoft has not announced plans to release it anywhere else. Microsoft ported Halo: Combat Evolved and Halo 2 to the PC, but all subsequent entries in the series have arrived only for consoles.

Forge - Halo 5: Guardians Edition, as it's being called, launches later this year for Windows 10 PCs, though a release date has not been announced. As detailed previously, players can create maps and modes with keyboard and mouse support, and then publish them on Xbox One. It also supports 4K resolution.

Some of the cool Forge creations on Xbox One so far have included things like a Harry Potter Quidditch gametype and Star Wars podracing. It's exciting to think about what could come next when PC users get their hands on Forge.