Private Battle

Private Battle is a multiplayer mode in Splatoon and Splatoon 2. Private Battles allow groups of two to eight friends to play together in customized matches, where the host selects the mode and stage. It was made available in Splatoon as part of Version. Private Battles do not reward players with Battle Points and players' ranks are not affected. Since points are not rewarded, any ticket used from Crust Bucket is not affected. Painting counts toward Turf Inked with the equipped weapon.

In Splatoon
Private Battles can have any number of players from two to eight. The host can create even battles (such as 1 vs. 1 or 4 vs. 4) or uneven battles (such as 1 vs. 4 or 3 vs. 2). However, there can only be up to four players per team, and the host cannot assign everyone to the same team. Lobbies created with Private Battle can only be joined by the host's Wii U friends and their Wii U friends. The host can set a four-digit password for the lobby so that uninvited friends cannot join.

The host of a Private Battle chooses the stage and mode that will be used. There is also a random stage option. All stages and modes are available, and new stages and modes were added as soon as they were released. Players get sixty seconds to ready themselves in the lobby after teams have been selected before the match starts. Like with Squad Battles, players can change their equipped weapon and gear in-between matches without having to leave the lobby and teammates' weapon selections are shown.

It is possible to create a private match using eight Wii U consoles connected via a single router that is connected to the Internet.

In Splatoon 2
Private Battles can be accessed either online via the menu in Deca Tower or locally via The Shoal. Online and wired LAN options now allow Private Battles to have two spectators to watch battles in addition to the two to eight players. The Spectator View allows the spectators to watch a battle from any player's point of view, as well as a bird's-eye view of the stage. The time limit for teams to prepare themselves in the lobby has been raised to ninety seconds. Also, the host has the option to set certain settings, which differs between the online and local version. The online version only lets the host set one of those options (the ability to turn secondary abilities on or off) while Private Battles at The Shoal lets the host manage to the following:


 * No Secondary Abilities — When ON, secondary gear abilities are disabled.
 * Use amiibo Gear — When ON, players can use gear saved to an amiibo.
 * Use amiibo User Names — When ON, players can use the user name saved to an amiibo.
 * Reset Options Every Match — When on, camera options and player settings reset every match.

Version added the ability to set voice chat on or off when creating a room in Private Battles without having to use the Online Lounge function, where voice chat still goes through the Nintendo Switch Online mobile app.

Version added the Turf War (Splatfest) option to Private Battles. When this mode is selected, all twenty-four variations of Shifty Station are available to be selected as battle stages, ink colors from any Splatfest in across all regions can be selected (save for the combinations from Raph vs. Donnie, Hello Kitty vs. My Melody, and Super Mushroom vs. Super Star), and stage music and animations are modified to match that of a Splatfest. Additionally, if a player is wearing the Splatfest Tee Replica, their team's Splatfest Team Name will display when the match is beginning.

In Splatoon 3
Private Battles can be accessed either online via the menu in the Lobby or locally via The Shoal. As with Splatoon 2, Online and wired LAN options allow for two spectators to watch battles in addition to the two to eight players.

New in Splatoon 3, Private Battles may be interrupted by any player or spectator through holding the button combination, , , , , for three seconds.

Quotes
"And here's another discovery - you can now set up and play Private Battles from the lobby! You and your friends can choose any stage or mode you want and even go on recon together to investigate new stages. It's like "investigating" the SRL office fridge for leftover ice cream."

- @SplatoonNA on Twitter

Trivia

 * During Splatfests, the only options in the Battle Lobby mode selection screen were Splatfest Battle and Private Battle.
 * Private Battles are not interrupted by Inkopolis News, unlike other battles. However, if a player disconnects from a Private Battle, the latest missed news announcement will appear.
 * If the host of a Private Battle was having a Splatfest, the ink color set for each match would be the host's Splatfest color set.
 * If the player scrolls over certain keys in the password selection screen in, a simplified version of the Calamari Inkantation can be played.
 * In both the Japanese and English versions of Splatoon, the two teams in a Private Battle are called "Alpha Team" and "Bravo Team".
 * When playing with less than eight players, the squids at the top will be not visible, except for the outline.
 * Meals and drinks effects from Crust Bucket are not consumed during Private Battles.
 * Private Battle participators appear at the entrance to Deca Tower if eight or more players joined the most recent match, just like Regular and Ranked Battles.