In a rare moment of refreshing honesty, Bungie has confirmed that its upcoming PvP extraction shooter, Marathon, will not feature proximity voice chat — and the reason is simple: it would be “way too toxic.”
The decision, revealed during a recent developer Q&A, has sparked a wave of discussion across the gaming community. While many players are disappointed by the absence of a feature that’s become a staple of immersive multiplayer games, others are applauding Bungie for prioritizing a healthier and more controlled in-game environment.
🎙️ Why No Proximity Chat? Bungie Speaks Out
During the Q&A, a member of Bungie’s design team explained:
“We love the idea of proximity chat — it can lead to incredible moments and player-driven storytelling. But in reality, especially in high-stakes PvP environments, it quickly becomes a magnet for toxicity, harassment, and griefing. We’re not building a game that rewards that behavior.”
Instead of proximity voice chat, Marathon will rely on:
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Ping and marker systems for team communication
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Squad voice chat (with opt-in settings)
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Potential text-based interaction options for enemy teams in future updates
🔫 A Competitive, High-Stakes Environment
As a sci-fi extraction shooter focused on high-intensity player-vs-player encounters, Marathon puts a premium on tension, tactics, and survival. Proximity chat — while immersive — often introduces a chaotic and unpredictable element, especially in games where griefing or baiting can ruin an entire match.
Games like Escape from Tarkov, Rust, and DayZ have shown both the potential and the pitfalls of open voice communication, with many streamers and players experiencing everything from hilarious roleplay to outright abuse.
Bungie’s choice suggests they’re leaning toward a more curated competitive experience, rather than leaving social interaction entirely in the hands of players.
💬 Community Reaction: Mixed, but Understandable
Reaction to the announcement has been divided:
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Some players lament the loss of emergent, unscripted moments that only proximity chat can provide.
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Others point to how toxicity in similar games often goes unchecked, and commend Bungie for setting clear boundaries early.
One Reddit user put it best:
“Do I want proximity chat? Sure. Do I want to be called every name in the book by a 14-year-old while bleeding out on the floor? Not really.”
🧠 A Wider Trend in Game Design?
Bungie isn’t alone in rethinking how voice communication is handled. Many modern competitive games have added voice moderation, reporting systems, or removed open comms entirely to cut down on harassment and improve player retention.
Whether Marathon will introduce more social tools over time remains to be seen, but it’s clear the studio is focused on building a competitive ecosystem that’s tense but respectful, not chaotic and abusive.
