How to Install & Play Custom Missions

How to Install & Play Custom Missions

GeneralsX supports the "Custom Mission" menu feature introduced in the official 2025 Steam update of Command & Conquer: Generals and Zero Hour.

This guide explains how custom missions work, where to install mission map files on macOS and Linux, and where to download custom single-player missions from the community.

---

🎯 What is the "Custom Mission" Menu?

In the Main Menu, under Single Player, you will find the Custom Mission button.

• Purpose: Allows players to select and launch standalone single-player missions, custom scripted challenge scenarios, and community campaigns.
• Steam Parity: In GeneralsX (matching the Windows Steam release), this menu strictly queries your local user data Maps/ folder for solo missions (isMultiplayer = no). Built-in campaign missions are intentionally excluded so they do not clutter your custom missions list.
• Skirmish vs. Custom Mission:
  • Custom Mission: Shows single-player missions with custom scripts and objectives.
  • Skirmish -> Select Map: Shows multiplayer/skirmish maps (both official system maps and unofficial user maps with 2+ player start positions).

---

📂 Where to Place Custom Missions

Custom missions consist of a folder containing at minimum a .map file (and optionally a .tga minimap preview image).

Directory Locations

Place your mission folders inside the appropriate Maps directory:

OS / Platform	Game	Path
macOS	Zero Hour	~/Library/Application Support/GeneralsX/GeneralsZH/Maps/
macOS	Generals	~/Library/Application Support/GeneralsX/Generals/Maps/
Linux (Flatpak)	Zero Hour	~/.var/app/io.github.generalsx.GeneralsMD/data/GeneralsZH/Maps/
Linux (Flatpak)	Generals	~/.var/app/io.github.generalsx.Generals/data/Generals/Maps/
Linux (Native)	Zero Hour	~/.local/share/GeneralsX/GeneralsZH/Maps/
Linux (Native)	Generals	~/.local/share/GeneralsX/Generals/Maps/
Windows	Zero Hour	Documents\Command and Conquer Generals Zero Hour Data\Maps\
Windows	Generals	Documents\Command and Conquer Generals Data\Maps\

Tip

If the Maps folder does not exist yet inside your user data directory, simply create it.

---

🗂️ Folder Structure Requirement

Command & Conquer engines require that each map is located in a subfolder whose name matches the .map file exactly:

Maps/
└── Black Sheep/
    ├── Black Sheep.map
    └── Black Sheep.tga   <-- (optional minimap image)

Caution

Do not place .map files directly into the root of the Maps/ folder without a parent directory. The game scanner will only discover maps located within their own dedicated subfolder.

---

🌐 Where to Download Custom Missions

The Command & Conquer: Generals community has produced hundreds of custom missions over the years:

1. Official Bonus Mission: "Black Sheep"

• Faction: GLA
• Background: Originally developed by Electronic Arts and cut from the retail release, EA subsequently released "Black Sheep" as an official free bonus download for the base game in 2003.
• Download: Available on CNCLabs and ModDB.

2. CNCLabs (Community Hub)

• CNCLabs Generals Single Player Maps: Navigate to the Maps section and filter by "Single Player" or "Missions".
• CNCLabs Zero Hour Single Player Maps: Features solo scenarios with custom AI scripts, stealth missions, and defensive survival challenges.

3. ModDB Addons & Maps

• C&C Generals Addons on ModDB: Community mission packs, mini-campaigns, and solo maps.
• C&C Generals: Zero Hour Addons on ModDB: Single-player mission expansions and community challenge packs.

4. Game Front & C&C Community Archives

• Game Front Generals Files: Long-standing repository hosting legacy mission files and campaigns from 2003–2010.

---

🛠️ Troubleshooting & FAQ

Why is my custom mission list empty?

• Ensure that the mission folder was extracted into the correct Maps/ path for your platform (macOS or Linux).
• Verify that the subfolder name matches the .map file name exactly (case-sensitive on Linux/macOS).
• Confirm that the map is a single-player map. Maps configured for standard multiplayer skirmish with 2+ starting positions are listed under Skirmish -> Select Map, not in the Custom Mission menu.

Can I create my own missions?

Yes! Use WorldBuilder to create a map, write mission scripts using the Script Editor, set player 1 as human and opponents as AI teams, and save it. Once placed into your user Maps/ folder, it will immediately appear in the Custom Mission menu.