Epic Games Launches Cross-Platform Voice Chat to Rival Discord
Epic Games has launched a new voice chat service called Epic Parties, as reported by GameSpot. The feature is designed to let friends talk across different devices and games.
The service works across Fortnite on all platforms, the Epic Games Store launcher on PC and mobile, and the Epic Games mobile apps. Per GameSpot, you can start a party on your phone, call a friend playing Fortnite on a console, and then transfer the call to your PC.
A key feature is that the voice chat isn't tied to a single game. You can stay in a party through the Epic launcher while playing any title from your library. If everyone in a voice party then opens Fortnite, the game will automatically put you all in the same lobby together.
The move puts Epic in direct competition with Discord. Epic's system aims to let users carry their friends list, voice channels, and digital avatars across PC, console, and mobile platforms.
Epic also hinted that this voice and avatar tech will be integrated into Unreal Engine 6 and offered to other developers. For now, the feature is rolling out in Fortnite and is planned for Rocket League next year.
