An update for Big Walk, the latest title from Untitled Goose Game developer House House, has addressed issues with its proximity voice chat volume. While the patch aims to make quieter microphones more audible, the studio intends to keep the core design principle of only hearing players who are close by.
Previously, players with quieter microphone setups struggled to be heard even at close distances. House House explained that while some systems were in place to manage this, they were not effective enough for lower-volume audio inputs. The studio noted that with a large player base now exploring the game, issues that were not apparent during pre-release testing have emerged.
Regarding the ability to hear other players from further away, House House stated that the change "makes quiet voices louder overall, so you will be louder up close, and louder at a medium distance." However, the distance at which voices drop off has not been altered. The developers consider this proximity limit an integral part of the game's design, akin to a character's jump height in a platformer, shaping the dynamics of player interaction.
This design choice creates a tension between player convenience and the developer's intent. The limited voice range encourages specific communication strategies, such as using in-game items like walkie-talkies or making conscious decisions about staying together or venturing apart. The developers have not yet committed to adding further features or settings, such as individual volume sliders, to the voice chat system. As a small team, House House is focused on ensuring each change is implemented correctly and will proceed with updates incrementally. Big Walk is available on Steam.