Discord is reportedly testing a new spatial audio feature that could allow users to adjust the perceived location of other participants in voice calls. This functionality, observed in the experimental Discord Canary build, aims to enhance the clarity of conversations by enabling users to spatially separate speakers.
According to reports from X users Pirat_Nation and DiscordPreviews, the feature allows for the positioning of other users in a call at various angles and distances. Discord would then process the audio to simulate these positions, making it sound as though the speaker is physically located at that point relative to the listener. This could be particularly beneficial in larger calls, helping to distinguish between multiple people speaking simultaneously and creating a more natural auditory experience.
While new to Discord, spatial audio is not unprecedented in voice communication platforms. Services like TeamSpeak have previously implemented similar features. The reported Discord implementation may also include options to adjust 'room size' and 'spatial blend,' with the latter likely controlling the degree to which incoming audio adheres to the spatial layout versus a more conventional mixed audio output.
This potential addition follows Discord's recent introduction of end-to-end encryption for its voice and video calls. The timing of these developments has led to speculation, with some suggesting they could be a response to earlier user backlash regarding the platform's age verification measures.