Likely no earlier than they finish rewriting the server code.

No thanks. That's a maintenance nightmare and troll drama source I would like to avoid.

ZOS has mentioned they have no intention of adding this for PC because according to them, there are better sources out there. While I do agree that something like Discord is an amazing tool, it's not necessarily a replacement for integrated voice chat. You don't have that instant voice access to people in your group. Realistically, pug groups aren't going to stop just after forming and share discord info around. Even if they wanted to, there is no easy way to copy/paste text and links anyway.

I look at it this way. Saying that we don't need integrated voice chat because Discord exists is like saying we don't need our mouths or ears at a real life gathering because we all have phones to communicate. The steps required to text someone, especially if you don't already have their info are clunky and slow compared to potentially just talking to that person.

As mentioned above, this should obviously be optional if implemented, especially if they add proximity chat, however, I don't really think this is something ZOS cares to add. It's up to them of course, but I think it's important to point out the flaw in their logic for not wanting to add it.

How much worse would the lag/performance be if voice comms are integrated?

EdmondDontes wrote: »

I really do not like Discord. It's a form of social media in my opinion. Discord creates and markets it's user profiles same as Facebook and other social media sites. Everything you do and say on Discord is recorded and tracked. I really liked TeamSpeak, but almost nobody uses it anymore.

Why can't we get an integrated com system for ESO? The game boxes get integrated coms, why not PC too?

Wow, I thought I was the only one who didn't like Discord. I can't stand how game forums are being dropped for it.

AcadianPaladin wrote: »

I'm kind of neutral on it. I'm mostly solo so no voice com is good for that. I can't tolerate basic zone chat so have the actual 'zone' inputs off (say, yell, whisper, guilds still on). When I do group it is normally coordinated and everyone's on discord. On the rare occasions when I pug, it would be welcome though for instant discussion of mechanics/coordination etc.. Group chat in text is worthless with a pug. By the time I get into the dungeon and type "Hi!", the group is halfway into the first pack of mobs.

Well, considering I actually have never, ever done a group dungeon (other than solo) in ESO... and I've been playing since 2015... I have done pug groups in DCUO and FFXIV. If it's anything like those two, nobody talks in a pug group, EVER. TBH, I've never even understood how DISCORD actually works... it seems overly complicated for something that should be simple.

EdmondDontes wrote: »

Sylvermynx wrote: »

I don't want that sort of thing. If they add it, I want to see it optional, and OFF by default.

Great. Putting a head set on and using in game coms is an option in every game I know of. I don't know of any games that mandate you use coms. I just think ESO should have included the option and it's not too late to add the feature. I'm certain in game coms would be more welcome and probably easier to implement than a virtual card game.

In game coms would be a pretty significant quality of life improvement for RP, trials and PvP. Every aspect of the game would be improved with in game coms IMO.

My QoL would defenitely improve by hearing ppl scream, playing music or having *** mics.

You are right that this feature exists in many games. Its the very first thing i deactivate when i start them for the first time in every last one of them. I once played a game where they added it and didnt add a deactivation toggle for a week. It was a living nightmare.

in my case it wouldnt really work for me since i have my voice setup running on a different computer (i have 3 computers on my desk) so i dont have to deal with the audio setting balance mess

I absolutely loathe dischord, i came from xbox where it was easy for talking to other players and i do miss that ease. Dischord has absolutely killed guildchat on pc, nobody appears to use it anymore aside from zonechat.

I'm pretty sure the consoles' respective networks provide voice chat as a standardized service. PC, by contrast, is more of a wild west scenario, with no standardization. The biggest engines, Unreal and Unity, both offer their own services, as does Steam. Obviously, the first two aren't options, and not everyone uses Steam, so ZOS would need to either roll their own, run open source services, or outsource to a third party that may or may not stay in business.

The most reliable option would be to host their own service, but doing so would require building out considerable infrastructure and IT capabilities they don't currently have. That sort of investment needs an ROI, and they probably did the math and figured there wasn't a high enough demand on PC to make it worthwhile, given how fragmented the market is with 3rd party voice chat apps already proliferating.

Would be nice if it was off by default with a very easy way to mute certain people around you

But as others have said, it is absolutely not worth the effort when PCs have access to many different apps for voice chat

I am gonna say that I for one like the integrated voice chat on console, when it actually works. It bugs out a lot and that's annoying.

It makes running dungeons with pugs a bit easier, and also lets you have conversations with guild mates that you may not want to be on your friends list yet.