PUBG: Battlegrounds is considered to be the originator of the modern battle royale genre, and has continued for years to push what multiplayer survival games offer forward, although proximity chat remains missing in console versions. The popularity of the game, however, came not only from the unique gameplay but a wide feature-set and expansive support for different gaming devices. While PUBG: Battlegrounds is now available on nearly all active gaming platforms, there are still important features that are missing on some of the versions.
Originally, the game was developed as a mod by a developer and gamer by the name of Brendan Greene, or PlayerUnknown - hence its initial name PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds. From the ARMA 3 mod, it grew into a full-fledged game. The game's nature was from the beginning to be fast-evolving and agile, which would allow updates and bug fixes more quickly. However, despite this fast pace, console players have yet to gain access to proximity chat.
PUBG Grew and Neglected Consoles
The game has grown immensely, and under game publisher and holding company Krafton, PUBG has partnered with massive brands like McLaren and Amazon. It is also now playable not only on PC but on current and previous generation consoles too and mobile. However, as the game has gotten bigger, the platforms have branched out more, and there are more inconsistencies.
While the game's recent additions include cool customizations, like PUBG and Assassin's Creed crossovers, one of the more interesting features PUBG introduced to its game came years ago. Proximity chat allows all 100 players on the map to chat together with only the location of the player as a limiting factor. While the feature has had its issues, including the now-removed possibility to use it in the lobby for advertisement spamming, it has been a blessing for the community. This allows for amazing in-game communication with not only teammates but with competing players, as long as they opt in. Players can trash-talk to a fallen enemy, chat with random teammates, or even form an unlikely collaboration with a frenemy.
The feature has been available for PC for years, and even PUBG Mobile users can use the proximity chat. However, players on consoles have been left high and dry for ages. From as early as 2018, people have been craving this feature on consoles, but for naught. In January 2018, the developers said that there were no plans for the feature to land on consoles, and nothing seems to have changed. This is especially unfortunate since consoles desperately need it. Xbox and PlayStation gamers would greatly benefit from the community-building possibilities. Not only would it allow better comms in-game, but it would also create exciting content to be shared online.
Possible Reasoning Behind Lack of Proximity Chat
Unfortunately, there's no clear indication from the current developer, PUBG Studios, what exactly is the problem with implementing the feature on Xbox or PlayStation. One could imagine that it is not an issue of complexity. The feature is already available on most platforms and should be easy enough to bring to consoles. There seems to be plenty of manpower, too, to add the highly requested feature to all the game's versions. What made the game so successful, in addition to PUBG's free-to-play model, was adapting and overcoming. It turned the game from a buggy mod with a beta-like experience into one of Steam's most popular games.
This leaves room to theorize that it could be because of nefarious uses the feature can facilitate. In addition to the aforementioned solicitation, PUBG Studios might consider that possible toxicity would turn the feature into a net loss for the community. However, this doesn't seem to take into account the fact that this is entirely an opt-in process, and shouldn't target people that are not willing to join in on the fun -- and the chaos and toxicity -- that it brings along. It also doesn't address the fact that many other Xbox games have proximity chat, and that it is available on both PC and mobile versions of PUBG. Hopefully PUBG Studios either addresses the request or finally gives in and adds it for the communities to enjoy.
PUBG: Battlegrounds is available now on Mobile, PC, PS4, PS5, Stadia, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S.
