Epic Games has just expanded its plans for cross-ecosystem chat options with the introduction of Epic Parties, which lets you virtually hang out and voice chat across Fortnite and other parts of the Epic Games Store. The new feature is an expansion of the text chat tool introduced back in December, as the publisher aims to connect up gamers in various places to contend with offerings such as Discord and Steam.
Epic Parties are now accessible in Fortnite as well as through the Epic Games Store on both PC and mobile, and the Epic Games app. You’re able to invite your friends into parties or join those that they’ve started, and can then voice chat regardless of what you’re all doing. If you have a text chat going, there will be a ‘Start Party’ button to immediately invite all members to a voice chat.
If you’re in an Epic Party with someone who’s playing Fortnite and you also boot up the battle royale game, you’ll automatically be dropped into the same lobby as them if possible. Additionally, should you be using a different device to chat than the one you load up Fortnite on, you’ll be prompted to transfer over so you can continue your conversation.
Naturally, if you end up with someone in your Epic Party that you don’t want there, you can mute, block, or report them. There’s also the option to submit voice reports to Epic if you believe someone is violating the community code of conduct.
Epic says, “Our social efforts share the same goal as Unreal Engine 6: an open ecosystem where your social connections and in-game purchases go with you from game to game. Today’s update is the next step toward a unified social experience across, and beyond, the Epic ecosystem.” It adds that later this year, you’ll be able to take your social avatars from Fortnite into other areas of the Epic Games system.
Support for Epic Parties will also be introduced to Rocket League “next year” alongside its transition to Unreal Engine 6, and Epic wants to “bring these social features to all developers, supporting all platforms, all stores, and all engines, in 2027.” Of course, in the case of third-party developers it’ll be up to them whether they’re interested in supporting Epic Parties or the company’s other proposed integrations.