# Creating Parties

In order to access online features, the player must be logged in with the **Online Subsystem**. Please visit the [**Authentication**](/kronos-matchmaking/usage/authentication/authenticating-users.md) page for more information.

## Creating The Party

To create a party (also knows as **Party Session**), use the `CreateKronosParty` node. To make the required host parameters simply drag off of the "Host Params" property and search for "make".

There is no hard requirement on where you need to call this from. Most games will probably have this hooked to the `OnClicked` event of a widget button.

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="Blueprint" %}

<figure><img src="/files/BPIAzILiZgpvehuLmcFU" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="C++" %}

```cpp
#include "KronosMatchmakingManager.h"
#include "KronosMatchmakingPolicy.h"
```

```cpp
// Get the matchmaking manager.
UKronosMatchmakingManager* MatchmakingManager = UKronosMatchmakingManager::Get(this);

// Request a new matchmaking policy. This operation is async!
// If matchmaking is in-progress, it will be canceled first.
MatchmakingManager->CreateMatchmakingPolicy(FOnCreateMatchmakingPolicyComplete::CreateLambda([this](UKronosMatchmakingPolicy* MatchmakingPolicy)
{
    // Parameters to be used for the party session.
    // Here's a private party configuration for up to 5 players.
    FKronosHostParams HostParams;
    HostParams.MaxNumPlayers = 5;
    HostParams.bShouldAdvertise = false;
    HostParams.bIsLanMatch = false;
    HostParams.bUsesPresence = true;
    HostParams.bAllowInvites = true;
    HostParams.bAllowJoinViaPresence = true;
    
    // If for some reason private sessions are not suitable for you,
    // you can make the session hidden instead. Hidden sessions can only be found when SpecificSessionQuery is used.
    // Steam for example doesn't allow you to join a friend through the Steam Overlay if he is in a private session.
    // Hidden sessions only make sense with bShouldAdvertise set to true!
    HostParams.bHidden = false;
    
    // Initialize matchmaking params from the host params.
    // Only the host params matter when starting matchmaking in CreateOnly mode.
    FKronosMatchmakingParams MatchmakingParams = FKronosMatchmakingParams(HostParams);
    
    // No matchmaking flags needed.
    uint8 MatchmakingFlags = static_cast<uint8>(EKronosMatchmakingFlags::None);
    
    // Tell the matchmaking that we only want to create a session.
    EKronosMatchmakingMode MatchmakingMode = EKronosMatchmakingMode::CreateOnly;
    
    // Start matchmaking.
    // Notice that we are using NAME_PartySession!
    MatchmakingPolicy->StartMatchmaking(NAME_PartySession, MatchmakingParams, MatchmakingFlags, MatchmakingMode);
}));
```

{% endtab %}
{% endtabs %}

If you take a look at the `KronosHostParams` you will see that it is exactly the same set of parameters used to create matches. This is because internally there is not much difference between matches and parties. They are both just sessions on the backend.

### The Starting Level Param

The "Starting Level" parameter is irrelevant when creating parties.

### Party Visibility&#x20;

Whether the party is public or private is dictated by the "Should Advertise" param. You will most likely want to create private parties, and invite your friends into it. To do this, disable "Should Advertise" and enable "Allow Invites".

You can also create hidden sessions by enabling both the "Should Advertise" and "Hidden" params. Hidden sessions are very useful when you want to create a private party, but your **Online Subsystem** requires sessions to be advertised to be joinable by other players. Hidden sessions can only be found during specific session queries (e.g. following party to a specific session).


---

# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://horizongames.gitbook.io/kronos-matchmaking/usage/party/creating-parties.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.