Should ESO on PC have an optional proximity voice chat?

Erickson9610 · March 2025

ESO on consoles already has an opt-out proximity voice chat. I personally enjoyed listening to other players talk to one another in towns, even if one of them had a low quality microphone with music blaring in the background — it gave the game a sense of liveliness and charm. I don't expect this feature to be required for content like PvP and trials (mainly because we can use 3rd party software for that on PC) but how would you feel about an optional voice chat feature built directly into the game?

Note that "opt-in" and "opt-out" in the poll refer to your ability to hear others using proximity voice chat. I assume that your default microphone input is using push-to-talk (not auto-detect/voice sensitivity) so you'd always have control over when your voice is being transmitted.

spartaxoxo · March 2025

Yes, ESO should have an opt-in proximity voice chat (Off by default)

It works really well on console. And I used to help new players by using it, who found themselves finding guilds and friends through it. The last couple of years, I haven't bothered with it as much because I played less and less overland. So, I also wasn't using area.

But prior to that, it was a very useful feature for new players and impromptu socializing. And it was very easy to not participate in if that wasn't your thing. I just saw a new player on Reddit the other day gushing about this game because of console area chat and the help they were able to receive and the great impression they got of the community because of it. So, I'm guessing that aspect is alive and well.

I'm using opt-in to refer to turning on your microphone, not to listening. If that was not the intention, I voted wrong. My bad.

Erickson9610 · March 2025

Yes, ESO should have an opt-out proximity voice chat (On by default)

spartaxoxo wrote: »

I'm using opt-in to refer to turning on your microphone, not to listening. If that was not the intention, I voted wrong. My bad.

Whoops, I should've been more specific. I mean opt-in as in listening to the chat. I presumed that push-to-talk would be the default setting for your microphone (making that "opt-in"), so I didn't think to specify that in the poll.

I totally understand that some people get annoyed by seeing or hearing others in their singleplayer game, which is why I felt it important to split the "Yes" option into "Yes, I want to hear others unless I say no" or "Yes, but only when I feel like it".

Estin · March 2025

Other (please describe your thoughts)

Opt in for proximity would work out, as in you hear nobody and nobody can hear you until you join the channel.

But I feel there should be an option to auto opt in whenever you join a group and still be able to hear those outside of your proximity.

TaSheen · March 2025

Other (please describe your thoughts)

The only way I would ever want to have it implemented would be defaulted to OFF, so only opt-in. Almost nothing would make me leave this game faster than defaulted ON voice chat - unless it was defaulted ON with NO way to opt out.

Marronsuisse · March 2025

No, ESO should not have a proximity voice chat feature

I switched from console to PC for a few reasons and the blessed lack of in-game voice chat was one of the main reasons. 👍

I feel like "opt-in" wouldn't really be viable because if half the people in a PUG chose not to hear voice chat, and the other half were using voice chat... that'd be very confusing.

ESO_player123 · March 2025

Other (please describe your thoughts)

I do not think that PC should have proximity chat, but I would not mind it as long as it's OFF by default and there is no way to accidentally turn it on with one careless push of a button.

valenwood_vegan · March 2025

Other (please describe your thoughts)

I wouldn't really care if there was an entirely optional proximity vc where you specifically have to join a group or a channel or whatever you wanna call it in order to be involved.

But I also wouldn't use it so I don't think eso "should" have it, so none of the categories quite apply.

mctaff · March 2025

No, ESO should not have a proximity voice chat feature

Unless there is a very clear Terms Of Service that allows it to be recorded (which most players would object to), in order to have it moderated where a complaint is made, the answer is no from me.

Gold selling shills would be standing by wayshrines broadcasting pre-recorded messages, the hatred when someone 'steals' a node from someone, and the general screaming from people who were offended by something... no thanks.

SilverBride · March 2025

No, ESO should not have a proximity voice chat feature

Reading chat is often bad enough. I certainly don't want to listen to it.

Erickson9610 · March 2025

Yes, ESO should have an opt-out proximity voice chat (On by default)

valenwood_vegan wrote: »

But I also wouldn't use it so I don't think eso "should" have it, so none of the categories quite apply.

I probably shouldn't have used the word "should" specifically. It was meant to be more of a "would you like" question.

DreamyLu · March 2025

Other (please describe your thoughts)

If it's optional, meaning I can turn it off, then I don't care. I would simply never use it.

If it wouldn't be optional, then my vote would be "no". As said by @SilverBride , it's often a bother enough to read it.
Sadly, ESO zone chat can be quite unpleasant up to toxic, especially over the weekend. Heated debates with insults and the famous "your mom" arguments (kids are out...), unacceptable jokes, racism, and so on... At the top of that, all the advertising... Try to picture that! Guilds recruiting, selling items/runs/crowns, and so on...

Erickson9610 · March 2025

Yes, ESO should have an opt-out proximity voice chat (On by default)

DreamyLu wrote: »

If it's optional, meaning I can turn it off, then I don't care. I would simply never use it.

I tried to emphasize that this would be optional by emphasizing the word with asterisks in the title. I even split the "Yes" option into "yes, if it's opt-in" and "yes, if it's opt-out" so that people would pick their preference on that as well. Unfortunately, most people seem to be picking "Other" and then describing one of the existing poll options.

rootkitronin · March 2025

Yes, ESO should have an opt-in proximity voice chat (Off by default)

A lot of people here don't seem to understand what the word optional means or have failed to read the subject line of the thread.

And despite having two options for Yes - one stating off by default (opt-in), and the other stating on by default (opt-out) -many people have decided to choose Other while making statements like "only if it's off by default, I would want to opt-in"... which, I mean, fine, but then why didn't you choose that exact option??

Did the poll options get changed after the poll was posted?? Do people just reply without reading anything?? What's going on here?

Erickson9610 · March 2025

Yes, ESO should have an opt-out proximity voice chat (On by default)

rootkitronin wrote: »

A lot of people here don't seem to understand what the word optional means or have failed to read the subject line of the thread.

And despite having two options for Yes - one stating off by default (opt-in), and the other stating on by default (opt-out) -many people have decided to choose Other while making statements like "only if it's off by default, I would want to opt-in"... which, I mean, fine, but then why didn't you choose that exact option??

Did the poll options get changed after the poll was posted?? Do people just reply without reading anything?? What's going on here?

Unfortunately, I am unable to edit the poll options after the poll has been posted. I am still able to edit the subject line and body of the original post (and I did so to emphasize what I mean by opt in/out).

I suppose my wording with the poll options wasn't clear enough, as evidenced by the several people who asked questions for clarification. I did assume many things and not clarify other things, so the best I can do is try to steer people in the right direction with the body of the original post — if they even read it.

rootkitronin · March 2025

Yes, ESO should have an opt-in proximity voice chat (Off by default)

Erickson9610 wrote: »

I suppose my wording with the poll options wasn't clear enough, as evidenced by the several people who asked questions for clarification.

Nah, your wording was crystal clear - there may have been some aspects of the subject that people weren't familiar with or didn't understand (which is fine), but that definitely wasn't due to your wording.

SilverBride · March 2025

No, ESO should not have a proximity voice chat feature

rootkitronin wrote: »

A lot of people here don't seem to understand what the word optional means or have failed to read the subject line of the thread.

The word "optional" doesn't make every feature that is suggested acceptable. If an idea is one we disagree with, making it optional doesn't automatically make it a good idea.

This poll is asking for our feedback and some of us don't want this feature added, optional or otherwise.

Kaelthorn_Nightbloom · March 2025

No, ESO should not have a proximity voice chat feature

Matt Firor discussed this topic in an interview many years ago. Basically they don't want to code a feature that is already widely available on PC. Also there have been stories of domestic abuse on open mics, people eating loudly with slurping sounds, coughing, mouth breathing, etc. all while you're trying to enjoy Tamriel.

Wereswan · March 2025

No, ESO should not have a proximity voice chat feature

rootkitronin wrote: »

A lot of people here don't seem to understand what the word optional means or have failed to read the subject line of the thread.

And despite having two options for Yes - one stating off by default (opt-in), and the other stating on by default (opt-out) -many people have decided to choose Other while making statements like "only if it's off by default, I would want to opt-in"... which, I mean, fine, but then why didn't you choose that exact option??

Did the poll options get changed after the poll was posted?? Do people just reply without reading anything?? What's going on here?

If there's social pressure to use a feature, is it still "optional?" Technically speaking, Discord isn't required to play ESO—but you'll see a lot of "Discord required" in guild descriptions and group finder listings.

Amottica · March 2025

No, ESO should not have a proximity voice chat feature

Proximity chat is unnecessary and problematic since VoIP chat in crowded areas would be a complete mess. I can imagine where we pick up our daily delve quests, hearing several people talking over each other LFG and such.

Additionally, there is a long laundry list of to-do items that are so much more important than adding proximity chat to the game. It's good to see that the minority are interested in this.

Arrow312 · March 2025

Yes, ESO should have an opt-in proximity voice chat (Off by default)

I know the VC from console and it make things a lot easier. On consoles you can mute the chat or go offline there.

If you have a random grp in e.g. Cyro a ingame Chat makes the coordination easier.

Soarora · March 2025

No, ESO should not have a proximity voice chat feature

As I said in the other thread, I don't really want to hear other people, but I don't want to ignore them either. I know what it's like to be the one person outside of a VC and it's not pleasant. I don't want my PuGs to go that way too. Let alone new possibilities of harassment in being pressured to call out mechanics or being yelled at vocally (not that I experience any in the first place, but it's a possibility).

I know that it works on console. I haven't played console, but I've heard of the voice chat there. But PC is more populated as far as I'm aware and also anyone can use the text chat much easier than on a console.

You really don't need it in ESO. No dungeon needs VC (not even LoM HM unless you really can't use the chat during combat at all), most trials don't either, and the trials that do need VC are the ones that don't go well with PuGs anyways because of the lack of coordination (considering a lot of PuGs have a VC running nowadays I doubt that's what the problem is).

DreamyLu · March 2025

Other (please describe your thoughts)

Erickson9610 wrote: »

DreamyLu wrote: »

If it's optional, meaning I can turn it off, then I don't care. I would simply never use it.

I tried to emphasize that this would be optional by emphasizing the word with asterisks in the title. I even split the "Yes" option into "yes, if it's opt-in" and "yes, if it's opt-out" so that people would pick their preference on that as well. Unfortunately, most people seem to be picking "Other" and then describing one of the existing poll options.

Looks like you have time on your hands! LOL

My vote remains "Other". I don't want to vote "yes" (no matter the wording). I don't like the proposal. Just, the precision that it would be an option helps that I don't go for a full rejection, so I don't vote "no".
Fact is that if they invest budget in this feature I don't like, it's a budget "lost" for something else I could prefer. But I'm a flexible person. I could adapt. And my vote "Other" does reflect exactly that: I don't like the proposal, would vote "no", but go for a potential compromise instead.

And somehow, the world keeps spinning...

spartaxoxo · March 2025

Yes, ESO should have an opt-in proximity voice chat (Off by default)

ESO_player123 wrote: »

I do not think that PC should have proximity chat, but I would not mind it as long as it's OFF by default and there is no way to accidentally turn it on with one careless push of a button.

It's on for listening by default for console (so new players can easily find it) but once you turn it off, it stays off until you turn it back on manually. So, can turn it off and never have to listen to it again, if you so choose. I can't remember the last time I heard area chat.

Microphone defaults to off but it remembers your setting after you turn it on. So, that can get a little annoying as I've accidentally spoke to pug groups that I didn't mean to speak to.

The proximity is also pretty small, so you don't hear a ton of overlapping chatter even when you have it on.

For a pretty bare bones voice chat, it's pretty well implemented. A lot of guilds don't require discord but have one for sign ups and the like, because voice chat on console. Some groups use the psn chat because the in-game chat is pretty bare bones. But I've also been in plenty of groups that were just like "join guild chat 1 for this trial/event," and that will be the end of it. It's nice not to have to swap discords or join some randos PSN group just to hear call outs in pugs.

rootkitronin · March 2025

Yes, ESO should have an opt-in proximity voice chat (Off by default)

SilverBride wrote: »

rootkitronin wrote: »

A lot of people here don't seem to understand what the word optional means or have failed to read the subject line of the thread.

The word "optional" doesn't make every feature that is suggested acceptable. If an idea is one we disagree with, making it optional doesn't automatically make it a good idea.

This poll is asking for our feedback and some of us don't want this feature added, optional or otherwise.

Oh I understand the basic function of a poll, and I see some really good reasons and arguments on here for the No option, from technical, policy issues, to social pressure.

But your reasoning was...

SilverBride wrote: »

Reading chat is often bad enough. I certainly don't want to listen to it.

An optional feature would mean that you wouldn't have to listen to anything. Problem solved.

So why go out of your way to try and prevent other people from having access to the feature? Seems like unnecessary gatekeeping.

As I've said though, there are some good reasoning and logic for not having the feature, even if it was optional - yours just wasn't one of them.

SilverBride · March 2025

No, ESO should not have a proximity voice chat feature

rootkitronin wrote: »

An optional feature would mean that you wouldn't have to listen to anything. Problem solved.

So why go out of your way to try and prevent other people from having access to the feature? Seems like unnecessary gatekeeping.

As I've said though, there are some good reasoning and logic for not having the feature, even if it was optional - yours just wasn't one of them.

I am not going out of my way to prevent anything. And not wanting a feature added is not gatekeeping.

I am just giving my feedback that I think this is a bad idea. Many ideas presented on these forums tack on "optional" but that does not make it any more desirable for players that don't think it's a good idea.

Thysbe · March 2025

No, ESO should not have a proximity voice chat feature

towards the "gatekeeping" argument: there is a limited pool of ressources and developing that feature takes from other features I would rather see implemented - or bug fixes. So yes, there is a reason not to want features implemented even if they are optional.

I would turn off voice chat anyways and I see a lot of people doing that. One of the reasons beeing language.

We are in a Multi-Language environment and not everyone feels safe talking in English, the threshold beeing much lower when typing.

So the amount of people you can actually communicate with in proximity might be a lot smaller than you think.

licenturion · March 2025

No, ESO should not have a proximity voice chat feature

God no. ESO already has issues with performance on PC sometimes. Adding another layer of complication and network traffic will not help things. I also want the devs to put their energy fully in new content because that is what the game is lacking these lately.

I tried ESO on my PlayStation once when there was a free trial to see how it looks and plays just for science. And my first reaction when I arrived in Vuhkel Guard was 'WTF is this notice' and dived into the options.

On PC you can join a guild and use their discord if you are craving to talk with people. I can already be done today.

Jestir · March 2025

No, ESO should not have a proximity voice chat feature

I don't think the game needs it

I do see some merit to it but then I think back to the first 2 years I played this game on PS4 after release and then gag at the thought

Maybe "OFF BY DEFAULT" would be okay, the amount of people who just don't realize or understand that no one wants to hear their music, awful irl situations/relationships or hear them wheeze and eat food into their mics is ridiculous

ajkb78 · March 2025

On console there is voice chat, you can toggle whether you hear it or not. The defaults seem fine, I have zone VC turned off altogether but hear group VC in dungeon finder or BGs etc. but my mic defaults to off. Mostly I have a guild VC channel turned on as well. It works really well and I was very surprised when I found out it's something that console has but PC doesn't. In fact on PS we have 2 options because we can use built-in PSN party voice chat too. It's ideal for organised trials but it also can be really helpful for helping pugs with mechanics or just for coordinating certain mechanics like Maarselok HM.

magnusthorek · March 2025

No, ESO should not have a proximity voice chat feature

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