Creative mode in Fortnite has led to many great experiences, from fun mini-games to some of the best XP maps. However, the game might turn down a dark path with the addition of proximity chat, allowing players to speak freely through their mics.
Promixity Chat Leads Fortnite Creative Down a Dark Path
Fortnite is more fun with friends, and talking to them while you play together is essential. However, party chat allows you to keep your conversations private and contained. You don’t have to worry about two opposing sides taunting each other besides the usual emotes. There is also a new monitor system to ensure all players are being kind. However, with proximity chat, this could be a whole different situation.
The idea of proximity chat is that all players in the game can communicate openly through their mics while within range of each other. While I’m sure plenty of creative games benefit from communication, it can also lead to toxicity and rude behavior, with no reliable way to prevent it.
We already see this kind of behavior in matches, with taunting emotes, private messages, etc. You can only imagine that proximity chat will lead to much worse. Players pit against each other will, 90% of the time, have nothing nice to say. Call of Duty lobby chat is proof enough.
Even if it’s a team game, proximity chat leaves room for players to act out, whether that be toxic bullying or even just being annoying. We’ve seen firsthand in games like Rec Room that people can be very, very obnoxious when it comes to open-mic communication.
Yeah, sure, some positives could come from proximity chat. Players can make friends with others, help them complete specific tasks, and be genuinely nice. But the odds of appropriate use are slim when comparing it to the other way around. Unless Epic Games ensures everything stays positive and clean, like constant moderators, it will run into a lot of obstacles.
Will Proximity Chat Spread to Other Fortnite Game Modes?
There’s no mention of adding proximity chat to other game modes besides Creative. Although some players have jokingly stated they wish it would be in Battle Royale, this would be 10x worse than Creative Maps and just be distracting. At least Creative maps are casual experiences that don’t matter much if you win or lose, but combine proximity chat with Battle Royale modes, and you’ll have an all-out verbal war between players even more.
Can We Avoid Proximity Chat in Fortnite?
The best way to avoid the downsides of open chat is to head into your settings and turn them off. Or, change them only to be friends or teammates. This way, you can enjoy the game as usual without listening to other players or narrowing it to only people you can trust. The best way to avoid toxicity and bullying is to mute people and block them from being around. This is a win-win for all players: Players who want to talk can keep it on, and players who don’t can just shut it off.
We won’t know exactly how proximity chat will affect Fortnite until we see it first-hand. From past experiences, though, it’s hard to see how the pros would outweigh the cons. Thankfully, there is a way to avoid it if need be.
Want to learn about other big changes to the game? Check out how it got rid of cosmetic rarities on GameSkinny’s Fortnite hub, or read about the upcoming Avatar event!
