Marathon shooter will not have proximity chat, which allows you to communicate at close range, due to concerns about toxicity
Bungie has announced that their upcoming PvP extraction shooter Marathon will not feature proximity chat. This decision was made due to concerns about potential toxic player behaviour.
What happened.
In a recent interview with PC Gamer, game director Joe Ziegler explained that the team is not ready to implement proximity chat until it finds an effective way to combat toxicity:
"We do not yet have a solution to the toxicity that proximity chat can cause. We are committed to creating a safe space for players, so we are not ready to implement this feature until we find a solution."
This has sparked debate among gamers, as Bungie has positioned Marathon as a "social extraction experience" where interaction between players is a key component.
Players have already expressed frustration with the lack of proxy chat, believing that it diminishes the social aspect of the game. They suggest alternative solutions, such as the ability to turn off chat or a moderation system to combat toxic behaviour.
Marathon is scheduled for release on 23 September 2025 on Xbox Series, PlayStation 5, and PC.
Source: PC Gamer
