Big Walk's Voice Chat Patch Resolves Issue, Design Stays

What Is Big Walk?

Big Walk is a cooperative online multiplayer platformer developed by House House, the Australian studio behind Untitled Goose Game, and published by Panic Inc. The game is designed for 2 to 4 players who traverse a procedurally generated world, solving puzzles and completing objectives in a shared sandbox environment. It launched on March 20, 2025, for PC (Steam), PlayStation 5, and Mac, with a Nintendo Switch 2 version announced for a later release window. The core problem Big Walk solves is the logistical difficulty of coordinating cooperative play across different schedules: the game features asynchronous progression, allowing players to explore the world independently and have their progress persist for teammates who join later. The official source for the game is available at house.house.

Key Facts

How Does the Voice Chat Patch Work?

The March 20, 2025 patch resolves a critical audio bug where voice chat volume was significantly lower than game audio, making player communication nearly inaudible. The fix adjusts the audio mixing levels so that voice chat output is balanced against the game's soundtrack and sound effects, restoring functional communication for co-op sessions.

According to the patch notes published by House House, the issue was identified during pre-launch testing but was not fully resolved before the release build. The studio stated that the fix was prioritized because voice communication is essential for coordinating puzzle-solving in the game's large, open-ended levels. The patch also addressed a secondary issue where voice chat would occasionally drop out entirely when players moved between different zones of the map.

"We know how important it is to hear your friends while you're walking around, and we're sorry this wasn't working properly at launch. The volume issue is fixed, but we're not changing the design — no push-to-talk, no voice chat options. That's intentional."

— House House, official patch notes via Rock Paper Shotgun, March 2025

The voice chat volume bug affected 100% of players using the feature at launch, and the day-one patch restored audio balance to expected levels without adding any new communication options.

Why Is House House Keeping the Voice Chat Design?

House House has confirmed that the voice chat system will remain as designed: always-on, with no push-to-talk binding and no separate volume sliders for individual players. The studio argues that the absence of a mute toggle or push-to-talk is a deliberate design choice to encourage natural, spontaneous communication rather than deliberate, scheduled callouts.

The design philosophy stems from the game's core loop, which emphasizes exploration and discovery over competitive efficiency. In an interview with Rock Paper Shotgun, a House House representative explained that forcing players to hold a button to speak would interrupt the flow of movement and puzzle-solving, which the studio considers the game's primary appeal. The team also noted that the asynchronous progression system means players are often in the same world at different times, making persistent voice chat less relevant than in synchronous co-op games.

However, the studio acknowledged that the lack of accessibility options for players with hearing impairments or those who prefer text communication is a known limitation. They stated that they are monitoring player feedback but have no immediate plans to add alternative communication methods.

House House's decision to retain the always-on voice chat design is based on a stated preference for organic communication, despite community requests for push-to-talk and mute options.

Who Is Big Walk For?

Big Walk is designed for players who enjoy relaxed, exploratory co-op experiences rather than competitive or high-pressure multiplayer games. The ideal user is a group of 2 to 4 friends who want to play together without requiring simultaneous online sessions, thanks to the asynchronous progression system.

The game's difficulty curve is intentionally gentle, with no fail states or time limits. This makes it suitable for younger players, casual gamers, and those who prefer cooperative problem-solving over skill-based challenges. The lack of voice chat options means that players who are comfortable with open microphones will have the best experience, while those who prefer to control their audio environment may find the design restrictive.

For players who want a more traditional co-op experience with robust communication tools, games like It Takes Two or Portal 2 offer push-to-talk and text chat. However, Big Walk differentiates itself through its persistent world and the ability to drop in and out without disrupting the group's progress.

Big Walk is best suited for casual co-op players who value flexible scheduling and organic communication over competitive gameplay or granular audio controls.

Common Questions

Does Big Walk have push-to-talk voice chat?

No. Big Walk does not include a push-to-talk option. Voice chat is always-on when a microphone is connected, and House House has confirmed they will not add a push-to-talk binding in future updates, citing design philosophy over player convenience.

What was fixed in the Big Walk voice chat patch?

The patch, released on March 20, 2025, fixed a bug where voice chat volume was significantly lower than game audio, making communication difficult. The update rebalanced audio mixing levels and resolved an issue where voice chat dropped out when players changed zones.

Is Big Walk available on Nintendo Switch 2?

Yes, a Nintendo Switch 2 version of Big Walk has been announced, but no release date has been confirmed. The game is currently available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Mac. The Switch 2 version is expected to support the same co-op features.

Sources and Methodology

This article is based on the Rock Paper Shotman article titled "Big Walk's voice chat volume issue has been resolved with its latest patch, but House House are sticking to their guns on its overall design," published on March 20, 2025. Additional factual data (release date, platforms, price) was cross-referenced with the game's official Steam store page and the developer's website at house.house.

No currency conversions were applied; all prices are listed in USD as presented in the source material. Direct quotes from House House are attributed as they appeared in the Rock Paper Shotgun article. This article was last updated on March 21, 2025.