After months of rumours and speculation, Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0 has finally been revealed. In a special event, popular streamers were flown out to get the first hands-on experience with the revamped battle royale mode and its new features. One such new feature is “proximity chat” – and its implementation has proven divisive. Many fans are asking “what is Warzone 2.0 proximity chat?”
Before we get into that, let’s go over what exactly we got to see in the new Warzone 2.0 preview.
Most importantly, we now know that Warzone 2.0 will not be set in Caldera or return to Verdansk. Instead, Infinity Ward have put together a brand new battle royale map featuring many landmarks from classic MW2 multiplayer maps.
The new map is called Al Mazrah. It’s a desert city with many different areas and points of interest to explore.
The new map looks quite similar to Verdansk – the original Warzone map – in terms of its features. It has a hydroelectric dam, an airport, a prison/fortress, a quarry, and even a big city area. As a result, Al Mazrah seems like a return to Warzone‘s hugely popular roots.
Other new features in the second iteration of Warzone include: a revamped 2v2 gulag, multiple gas circles that collapse in on each other, a third-person mode, redesigned looting system, swimming, AI strongholds, and new equipment and gadgets.
However, the new feature that’s caught everyone’s attention in Warzone 2.0 is proximity chat.
Some players will be familiar with it from other games like PUBG whereas others won’t have encountered it before.
So, let’s answer “what is proximity chat in Warzone 2.0?” and take a look at how it works…
What is Proximity Chat in Warzone 2.0?
The inclusion of proximity chat in Warzone 2.0 has proven controversial.
For many, it’s a welcome addition that will make for fantastic video montages and hilarious clips. To others, it’s seen as a channel that’s open to abuse and detrimental to tactical comms.
Whatever your view on it, this is a brand new feature for Warzone and it will take some getting used to.
What is proximity chat in Warzone 2.0? Proximity chat is player-to-player voice chat that triggers when two players/squads are near to each other. This means you can hear enemy comms as they approach you and vice versa.
It goes without saying that proximity chat adds an all-new dimension to Warzone. Now, players have to be mindful of what they say when enemies are nearby. Give away your position and it could cost you in a big way.
Fans of proximity chat say it makes for a more fun and interactive experience between players. Of course, it opens the door to trolling players as you push into their camping spot – which could be funny. But it also creates an avenue for abuse.
Anyone who was around for the original Modern Warfare 2 will remember how toxic those lobbies could be. Racism and homophobia were common place. And it really could spoil the fun in Warzone 2.0.
Hopefully Infinity Ward has set up a comprehensive reporting process to allow the swift banning of anyone who abuses the new proximity chat feature.
Can You Turn Off Proximity Chat in Warzone 2.0?
With proximity chat being so divisive, many players will probably want to turn it off entirely.
While death comms can be funny, having enemy players constantly in your ear can get highly irritating – especially for those who prefer a more tactical and sneaky experience.
Can you turn off proximity chat in Warzone 2.0? Yes, players who don’t want to use the proximity chat feature can turn it off in the game’s settings menu. This means you won’t be able hear other players and they won’t be able to hear you.
Of course, this removes any potential advantage you could gain by eavesdropping on enemy comms. But it also means you can get the jump on enemies without them hearing you coming.
Whether you decide to use proximity chat in Warzone 2.0 or not, the feature will certainly change how many play the popular battle royale.
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Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II launches on October 28th 2022, followed by Warzone 2.0 on November 16th 2022. If you can’t wait to get your hands on the new Call of Duty, you can pre-order now and play the MW2 open beta.
How do you feel about proximity chat in Warzone 2.0? Let us know in the comment section below and don’t forget to check out our other gaming articles…
