Cooperative puzzle game Big Walk has seen a strong launch, achieving nearly 50,000 concurrent players on Steam and garnering "Very Positive" reviews. However, a recurring issue in player feedback pertains to the in-game proximity voice chat, which many find too quiet.
Players have reported that even with in-game sound settings at their maximum, voices of teammates can be barely audible, often sounding like whispers. This is particularly problematic in a game that encourages players to rely on its built-in communication system rather than third-party applications like Discord. Some reviews suggest a need for more granular audio controls, specifically separate sliders for in-game sounds and player voices.
While the game's design incorporates mechanics where distance affects voice volume, potentially for puzzle-solving purposes, players note that voices are quieter than intended even when characters are in close proximity. The rapid fall-off of voice audio with distance is more pronounced than in many other games.
House House, the developer behind Big Walk, has publicly acknowledged the problem. In a statement on Steam, the studio apologized for the issue, stating, "We understand that some people are having a problem where their friends' voices are too quiet in the game. Sorry about this!" The developer added that while the game is designed for voices to quiet down with distance, they recognize that for some setups, player voices are significantly quieter than expected, even when close by. A fix is reportedly in development and will be released as soon as possible.
It remains unclear whether the upcoming patch will introduce multiple audio sliders or simply boost overall player voice levels. In the interim, a community-developed mod has emerged on GitHub that adds a separate voice volume slider, allowing users to increase voice chat volume up to 200%.