Ahh, yes, proximity chat, the crown jewel of multiplayer shooters, where you can trash-talk your opponent in the middle of a gun fight. What’s that? Fortnite added a new game mode centered around cross-teaming, backstabbing, and proximity chat silliness? Well, I think we all already know how that’s going to end.
When Fortnite officially released its Delulu mode last weekend, a mode centered on solo gameplay, with the explicit potential to team up with opponents via proximity chat, the game saw both an influx of players and an influx of player reports, with some going way too far with the game’s new voice chat features.
Even we at Dualshockers were worried that, once this proximity-based mode hit the Fortnite masses, a multiplayer game that now encompasses an overwhelming majority of online audiences, things wouldn’t go as smoothly as expected.
This abuse even led to the official Twitter/X account posting a reminder to players to report any behavior that goes against their policies. After all, even if it’s said through a seemingly inconspicuous voice chat feature, it still has the power to go against their terms of service and get you banned.
Delulu Mode’s Mass Ban Wave
When you think about it, proximity chat really is the standout tool for some of the most community-driven multiplayer experiences, allowing players to talk to each other in-game almost as freely as you can in the real world, with the space between players being the only limiting factor in who you can or cannot hear.
Proximity chat also presents a few challenges, specifically in how it allows players to engage in direct communication while directly competing with each other. This has led to some pretty toxic situations where, for instance, if you have a feminine-presenting voice, people may just hunt you down for the fun of it (thanks, PC Gamer).
Examining Twitch streams reveals that many users have utilized the proximity chat in Delulu mode to exacerbate the toxic behavior of stream sniping. Instead of simply hunting down their favorite streamer, players are additionally yelling out slurs that will not only be displayed for the individual streamer but also for everyone they’re streaming to.
According to the prior Fortnite post calling for players to report harassment when they run into it, there have been “thousands banned already this weekend” through this new Delulu mode. At the very least, Epic Games appears to be aware of this level of harassment.
However, the toxic crowd is still a very niche part of the Fortnite audience, with a majority of players using the mode as intended – to create a web of bonds, friendship, and backstabbing, which has made the mode one of Fortnite’s most popular to date.
In fact, many people are hoping that the mode sticks around even after this past free weekend, with many definitely enjoying the new communication-based camaraderie that the mode has introduced.
Is Delulu mode here to stay? Who knows. My favorite theory, however, is that Epic Games intentionally put out this mode to create a mass ban on toxic community members, and if that’s true, maybe this is the best Fortnite mode to date.
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- Released
- September 26, 2017
- ESRB
- T for Teen – Diverse Content: Discretion Advised, In-Game Purchases, Users Interact
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- Engine
- Unreal Engine 5
- Cross-Platform Play
- All platforms (except iOS/Mac)
- Cross Save
- Via Epic Account
- Number of Players
- 1-4 players (online)
- Split Screen Orientation
- Horizontal Only
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- N/A
- PC Release Date
- September 26, 2017
- Xbox Series X|S Release Date
- November 10, 2020
- PS5 Release Date
- November 12, 2020
- Nintendo Switch Release Date
- June 12, 2018
- Nintendo Switch 2 Release Date
- June 5, 2025
- How Long To Beat
- 64 hours
- X|S Optimized
- YES
- File Size Xbox Series
- 89.89 GB
- Metascore
- 78
- Platforms That Support Crossplay
- Mobile, PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One & Xbox Series X|S
- PS Plus Availability
- N/A
- Local Co-Op Support
- 1-4 players (certain modes)
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
- Security Camera Installation – indoor/outdoor IP CCTV systems & video analytics
- Access Control Installation – key card, fob, biometric & cloud‑based door entry
- Business Security Systems – integrated alarms, surveillance & access control
- Structured Cabling Services – voice, data & fiber infrastructure for new or existing builds
- Video Monitoring Services – 24/7 remote surveillance and analytics monitoring
Author: 360 Technology Group
