Last month, Blizzard killed Battle.net. In name only, Blizzard recognised that multiplayer service were a part of the games they were tied to, and should not require a separate service to maintain and connect them. It was a mantra shift if anything, but it’s one that has opened Blizzard up to a more progressive multiplayer space. And that’s already taking shape, with the launch of a new cross-game chat service.
Similar more to Steam’s own chat service and less like applications like Discord, Blizzard Voice is a new addition to the Blizzard Launcher which gives you cross-game chat across all their titles. It’s out now too, with a quick update to your launcher adding the functionality. Blizzard promises that all calls will have “high quality voice audio and superior stability,” while also giving users the ability to mute specific players or change volume on a user to user basis.
Blizzard Voice has arrived! Be sure to update your Blizzard Launcher before trying to give it a go pic.twitter.com/P3T2lEMVWM
— Blizzard Ent (@Blizzard_Ent) 20 October 2016
It is, sadly, intrinsically tied to your own Blizzard account though. Blizzard Voice isn’t yet a solution for public matches in Blizzard titles. If you match make in Overwatch, for example, with a group of random players, you’ll still need to use either in-game chat or superior applications like TeamSpeak and Discord. This isn’t Blizzard’s answer to make you drop those, but instead a neat additional option that can be built upon in the coming months to make it more relevant.
I’m usually a Discord type of guy, but if Blizzard Voice allows me to insult Matty with crystal clarity and no fuss for setup during some Overwatch games, I’m all for it. I mean, it’s not like he was pushing the Payload anyway.
Last Updated: October 21, 2016
Lord Chaos
October 21, 2016 at 14:19
Would be awesome to use this over Discord in-game
Archdruid Kromas
October 21, 2016 at 14:27
Still prefer Teamspeak over most other apps.
Lord Chaos
October 21, 2016 at 14:31
I don’t like you anymore. Teamspeak tends to over-complicate things. And that computer voice talking disturbs me
Archdruid Kromas
October 21, 2016 at 14:37
Discord quality is terrible. Mumble is a bit overcomplicated for some and all the game based voice apps don;t work well for us since we play on various platforms.
Lord Chaos
October 21, 2016 at 14:39
Found Discord to work amazingly well. Usually play Overwatch with a German and Brit and quality is perfect.
Archdruid Kromas
October 21, 2016 at 15:04
We suffer from terrible cutouts so we went back to TS.
Ottokie
October 21, 2016 at 14:28
Skype is life, Skype is love
Admiral Chief
October 21, 2016 at 14:29
…unless Otto is singing
VampyreSquirrel
October 21, 2016 at 14:31
^THIS
Admiral Chief
October 21, 2016 at 14:31
^THAT
VampyreSquirrel
October 21, 2016 at 14:31
Also if Barry and FJ join in…. *Mute the sound!*
Admiral Chief
October 21, 2016 at 14:31
Especially if there is alcohol involved!
Dutch Matrix
October 21, 2016 at 14:35
So now I can tell you all the unsavoury things I did to your mom while you are playing StarCraft and I am playing… Wait. I don’t play Blizzard games. Nevermind then!
Lord Chaos
October 21, 2016 at 14:39
Small miracles.