How to Run a Private Match in Splatoon 3

While the enduring appeal of Splatoon is playing online with randos and rising up the ranks, sometimes you want to take it a little easier. Maybe you and your friends just want to get together for some good, clean (or not so clean as the case may be) fun. Luckily, Splatoon 3 has features to facilitate that. Here’s how to run a private match in Splatoon 3.

How to Run a Private Match in Splatoon 3

Private matches in Splatoon 3 can be fully customized to your preferences, even allowing you to use modes and features that may not be currently available. You can choose the stage you want to play on, the game mode you want to play, and set custom rules like whether Amiibo gear is allowed. The obvious catch to this is that you can’t gain any money or experience from playing in Private matches. This is strictly for fun purposes only.

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To launch a private match, just enter the matchmaking kettle in the multiplayer lobby. Scroll to the bottom of the list and choose Private Battle. Press Y to create a room, and set up a password and voice chat settings. When the room is set up, you’ll appear as a ghost in the lobby of players on your Switch friends list. If they talk to your ghost and enter the password, they’ll join the room. You need at least two players in the room to start the match, though there can be up to ten, plus two spectators. It’ll be up to you as the room creator to pick members for teams.

In addition to the regular game modes, you can also set up private instances of Salmon Run. Once again, these are for fun only. You won’t get any rewards or rank-ups playing privately, but they are a good way to practice with your team. Setting up a private Salmon Run shift works pretty much the same way as a regular match; just go to the GrizzCo office, open the matchmaking menu, and choose Private Battle. Three other players can join you for the shift, and everyone even gets to pick their own weapons instead of having them randomly assigned.

Finally, if you’re looking to play local multiplayer, head over to the Shoal. It’s the building with the big green arrow symbol on it. Talk to the jellyfish at the desk, and you can get a local multiplayer match going in the same way you’d start an online private match. Again, you can play in any game mode, even Salmon Run. Just a heads up, though, Splatoon 3 does not feature splitscreen. Your couch buddy will need their own Switch console and game copy to play on.

Whenever you want to take a break from the madness of Splatoon 3’s competitive scene, just get some friends together for a private match!