Does Fortnite BR have global chat? Here's how to turn it on
Fortnite has added a global chat option, and players can finally hear each other mid-match, for better or worse.
Text chat is pretty common in multiplayer games because it’s an easy way to communicate. Not everyone has a mic or feels like using one, so having a text chat option is often seen as a must-have. The same can not be said about global chat.
Most gamers agree such a function leads to unnecessary toxicity between two teams. Despite that potential, some games still enable it for pre-game. Fortnite took it to the next level by having voice chat throughout the match in the most recent update.
After the chaos, fans want to know how to turn global chat on (or off, depending on their patience).
How to enable global text chat in Fortnite
Global text chat is currently enabled for everyone by default. Players can send messages to everyone in a Fortnite lobby by pressing Enter key. On December 18, 2024, players noticed that they could now send messages to enemies by simply pressing Enter. This feature, common in other multiplayer games, is a rare occurrence in Fortnite. Naturally, clips of questionable chats and interactions went viral on social forums, drawing mixed reactions from the fans.
It was later revealed that the feature was just a bug and only worked in select lobbies. While some argued that Fortnite should make the bug a permanent feature, others felt that having global chat mid-game could be highly problematic. Fortnite Battle Royale is highly competitive, and toxicity between teams is practically expected. Enabling global text chat could easily escalate tensions between angry gamers, leading to even more cases of toxic behavior.
Some pointed out that it could be a helpful tool for players with speech impediments. Critics countered that players may use the chat to accuse players of having different impediments. Fans of the feature want Epic to take things further, and introduce proximity chat in Fortnite Battle Royale.
Soon, it was revealed that the global text chat in Fortnite Battle Royale was a bug, likely resulting from the recent update. Earlier in December, Epic Games announced that text chat is now available across all modes in Fortnite. Previously, it was limited to creator mode, forcing battle royale players to use their microphones.
Fortnite has plenty of features planned for 2025
Epic Games has promised more exciting features for Fortnite in 2025. One of the more impressive additions to Fortnite was Unreal Editor for Fortnite or UEFN. This program allowed players to edit the world with Fortnite assets. The community around these fanmade worlds adds more engagement for fans. The company has made it clear they have big plans for the feature in 2025.
Epic confirmed during a press conference that they plan on developing future Battle Royale seasons in UEFN. This could give Fortnite the same quality as games like Minecraft and Roblox. The studio also plans to add more tools and systems to UEFN, such as new cameras, itemization, and object manipulation.
Global chat is just a taste of what’s to come to Fortnite in 2025.
Fariha Bhatti is a long-time gaming writer who loves competitive FPS games and slots with particularly fun themes. She got her start playing classic games developed by SNK, from legendary fighting game series The King of Fighters to challenging platform franchise Metal Slug. She now spends most of her time playing Valorant and Counter-Strike 2 while working her way through new slot releases to find her next favorite. Fariha has been published at PCGamesN, TalkEsport and ONE Esports.
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