Bungie’s Marathon Will Not Feature Proximity Chat, Citing Toxicity Concerns

In a recent interview with PCGamer, Bungie’s game director Joe Ziegler revealed that their upcoming extraction shooter, Marathon, will not include a proximity chat feature due to the potential for toxicity among players. Ziegler emphasized the studio's commitment to establishing a safe gaming environment, stating, "I don’t think anyone really has a good solution to that just yet." This decision has sparked debate within the gaming community, particularly among fans of similar games that successfully utilize proximity chat to enrich the social experience. While many acknowledge the challenges of moderating toxic behavior, opponents of Bungie's position argue that the absence of this feature could diminish the game's intended social extraction experience. They suggest the introduction of an opt-in system for proximity chat, or implementing robust reporting mechanisms to address toxic players. With Marathon set for release on September 23, 2025, it remains to be seen if community feedback will compel Bungie to reconsider this controversial decision. Fans express concern that without proximity chat, the core dynamics that often make such games engaging could be lost, thus undermining Bungie's aims of fostering cooperative gameplay.