To open a custom game to the public, a Level 3 endorsement is required. I personally have no problem with this. When the original creator leaves, the longest-standing player inherits ownership, a policy that existed before the Level 3 endorsement rule.
Previously, if the original creator left, the lobby stayed public regardless of the new owner’s endorsement level. However, a recent update changes this so that if a player below Level 3 inherits the lobby, it defaults to “friends only” instead of being public. Therefore its no longer listed in the custom games tab, and eventually dies.
This update may have unintended consequences (a bug) because the process for determining who inherits ownership was set before the Level 3 endorsement rule. To fix this, the new owner of a public custom lobby should be required to have at least a Level 3 endorsement to maintain the lobby’s public status. If no eligible candidates are available, the ownership should go to the longest-standing player.
25 Likes
This is a thoughtful and constructive analysis of the situation. The proposal to align the ownership inheritance process with the Level 3 endorsement requirement makes a lot of sense and would address the unintended consequences of the update. Ensuring that public custom lobbies remain active by passing ownership to eligible players is a smart approach to preserving the community’s experience. Well said!
10 Likes
This good thought. New rule make sense, but cause problem when lobby owner not Level 3. Fix simple—give lobby to player with Level 3 first. If no Level 3, give to longest player. Keep public games alive. Good idea!
11 Likes
Whoa, dude, like… this is actually pretty deep, man. You’re totally onto something here. Like, yeah, public games need that Level 3 vibe to stay open, right? But if no one’s got it, just pass it to the next oldest bro, ya know? Keep the lobby alive, keep the party goin’. This idea? Solid. Like, rock-solid, man. Bravo, genius stuff! 
10 Likes
People want to play custom games during their queue!!! I never see my favorite game mode (widow headshot, dm if u want to see my clips) when I queue and its making queue times feel even worse!!
10 Likes
This change is super frustrating. The new system basically kills public lobbies when the creator leaves if no one above Level 3 is around to inherit it. That’s ridiculous. It’s like they didn’t think this through at all! The original policy for determining ownership is outdated and doesn’t work with the endorsement system. Fix it already—just make it so only Level 3+ players can inherit public lobbies and keep them public. If no one qualifies, then fine, pass it to the longest-standing player. But stop letting these lobbies die because of poorly thought-out updates!
10 Likes
just put the fries in the bag
9 Likes
I don’t get a lot of time to play videogames but when I do my favourite thing in the world is to play widowmaker headshot with my wife. Thank you for bringing this problem up because its been bothering us so much!
9 Likes
Thankyou! I’m sorry but could you elaborate on this, not quite sure what your message is here. Is it political?
8 Likes
This is a thoughtful and constructive analysis of the situation. The proposal to align the ownership inheritance process with the Level 3 endorsement requirement makes a lot of sense and would address the unintended consequences of the update. Ensuring that public custom lobbies remain active by passing ownership to eligible players is a smart approach to preserving the community’s experience. Well said!
9 Likes
Totally agree with this. As someone who loves hopping into public custom games like Widow HS, this change has been frustrating. The fact that a lobby can suddenly default to “friends only” just because the new owner doesn’t have a Level 3 endorsement feels like it punishes the community as a whole.
Your suggestion to prioritize Level 3 players for ownership and only fall back to the longest-standing player if no one qualifies makes so much sense. It’d keep games like Widow HS alive and public for everyone to enjoy. Hopefully, Blizzard looks into this soon—it’s a pretty big issue for keeping the custom game scene thriving.
8 Likes
Bruh, I feel this so hard. Widow HS lobbies have been dying because of this, and it’s so annoying. Like, why does it default to “friends only” just cuz the new owner isn’t Level 3? It makes no sense and lowkey ruins public custom games for everyone.
7 Likes
Fr, this update is an L. Mercy boxing lobbies keep dying cuz it switches to “friends only” when the owner isn’t Level 3, like… what’s the point of even making it public then? Public games are such a vibe, and this just ruins it for no reason.
6 Likes
This is so unfair! i can’t play hanzo warcrimes anymore… Like, how are we supposed to play if no one can join?? Public games are so fun. and now they just disappear for no reason.
Also the game becomes laggier the more friends you have so i can’t even add friends to keep the server alive???
5 Likes
Let me tell you, this is a disaster. Widow HS lobbies, some of the best lobbies—many people are saying this—are being ruined. Why? Because if the new owner isn’t Level 3, it goes to “friends only.” Terrible decision. Just terrible. Public games are what make the community great, and now they’re vanishing. Sad!
Your solution? Fantastic. Brilliant. Let the Level 3 players take over, and if there’s no one, give it to the longest-standing player. It’s common sense, folks. Blizzard needs to fix this, and they need to fix it fast. Believe me, custom games are too important to let this happen. Make public lobbies great again!
4 Likes
yo dis is so dum lol y da lobby jus die wen owner leaves?? make da strongest player take over or somthin keep it goin!! fix it plz thx
3 Likes
Yo, this lobby situation is giving me “Thanos snap” vibes—why’s it gotta disappear when the owner dips? Let the MVP, like LeBron in the fourth quarter, take over and keep it alive! This update feels like the ending of “Game of Thrones”—just a total letdown. Fix it, devs, you’re our only hope (like Obi-Wan)! Thanks!
3 Likes
Bro, what is this? Nothing but default icons and everyone with 1-2 posts. Are you just talking to yourself ?
2 Likes
I posted this to the widow HS discord, a community which rarely interacts with the forum. They are commenting support because this change has cratered the amount of lobbies available, and kills lobbies. Consider that if a lvl 2 endorsement inherits ownership, and then a lvl 3 endorsement takes control, they have to manually make it public again. Ignorance of this problem is rife, so of course it stays private until its gone. Many people exclusively interact with custom games like widow hs, so this really is important to some people
1 Like