Epic Games Launches Cross-Ecosystem Voice Chat Feature Called Epic Parties

Epic Games has launched Epic Parties, a new system that brings cross-ecosystem voice chat across Fortnite, the Epic Games Store, and its mobile applications. Party chat systems have become a standard part of gaming across modern platforms. PlayStation and Xbox have long featured their own integrated party systems, while Discord remains a popular choice for PC players. The introduction of Epic Parties allows users to communicate without leaving the Epic ecosystem.

In other industry updates, an investor group led by Seriously co-founder Andrew Stalbow completed the acquisition of English football club Bath City FC following a seed round that raised approximately £6 million. The games industry shares a long history of partnerships with English football. Examples include Xsolla signing a sponsorship deal with Stevenage FC, EA serving as a referee shirt sponsor in the English Football League, and Sports Interactive collaborating with clubs like Watford and Brighton for scouting and sponsorships.

Nintendo also recently shared news during a series of presentations, including details on Fire Emblem Heroes and a Legend of Zelda Direct. The Zelda Direct showcased mobile connectivity features for the Ocarina of Time remake via the Nintendo Switch App, including automatic gameplay screenshots, enemy statistics, and quizzes. Additionally, Sucker Punch co-founder Chris Zimmerman recently discussed the studio's history, the challenges of standing out in a crowded market, and the development process behind titles like Ghost of Tsushima.