“Can someone explain why?”: Valorant Returnees Shocked to See Call of Duty isn’t the Benchmark for 1 Mechanic for a Change

Would you rather have push to talk or open mic comms?

Call of Duty and Valorant

SUMMARY

  • When you take a long break from online games, you often come back to a game that feels completely different.
  • And one Valorant player on Reddit has just experienced it with the game's push to talk system.
  • Different from the open mic system of games like Call of Duty, these two systems have good and bad things.
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Returning to Valorant after a few years, some players are surprised by this one game feature. One of the most notable differences for returning players is the game’s strict push-to-talk system. Unlike Call of Duty, where voice chat is often on open mic by default, Valorant requires players to press a button to chat.

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A frustrated user on Reddit voiced their annoyance, questioning why they can’t set team voice chat to automatic. This started a debate in the comments about the pros and cons of each approach.

Valorant’s Push-to-Talk System Does More Good Than Bad

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An in-game screenshot of Valorant
An in-game screenshot of Valorant

In the Call of Duty community, the situation is quite different. The open mic system in these games often leads to unwanted noise, from static and background conversations to other distracting sounds. Many players find this infuriating and wish for a push-to-talk option instead.

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Open Mic Users Please Stop
byu/SQUIDWARD360 inModernWarfareII

The open mic system can be particularly frustrating when it interferes with the ability to hear important in-game sounds and team communications, prompting calls for a push-to-talk option.

Some Call of Duty players find humor in the open mic chaos. Players talk about overhearing heated arguments, fire alarms, and even people eating loudly. These unexpected audio snippets are entertaining to some, but it shows the drawback of an open mic system where players have little control over the auditory environment.

Despite the inconvenience, some Valorant players have adapted to the push-to-talk system, learning to coordinate effectively even in high-pressure situations.

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Players say that push-to-talk minimizes unnecessary noise and keeps communication clear and concise. This chat system ensures that only essential information is shared, preventing the chaos that often ensues in games with open mic systems.

Push to talk
byu/the_real_koop inVALORANT

Riot Games‘ push-to-talk system is designed to reduce unnecessary noise so that only relevant information is communicated. However, this requires players to develop the habit of pressing a button to speak, which can be a challenging adjustment for some.

Both Styles of Voice Communication Work

Chamber reloading a weapon as he engages an enemy in Valorant.
All online games have some sort of voice communication system. Credits: ZilZod Valorant on YouTube

The difference between these two systems shows the different priorities of each game’s developers. Valorant emphasizes clarity and precision in communication, ensuring that only relevant game information is transmitted. Though there’s always the chance of people misusing a game’s communication system.

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Call of Duty‘s approach allows for more spontaneous and casual interaction but at the cost of increased background noise and potential distractions. 

Whether one prefers the structured clarity of push-to-talk or the ease of open mic, it’s clear that both systems have their strengths and weaknesses.

Valorant‘s push-to-talk feature is praised for keeping the game environment focused but it can be hard to learn for players not accustomed to it. The open mic system allows easier communication but often leads to a cluttered and noisy experience.

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Which do you lean towards, the structured communication of push-to-talk or the casual ease of open mic? Let us know in the comments!

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Written by Daniel Royte

Articles Published: 183

Daniel is a gamer through and through with a passion for gaming in his veins. His current adventures have taken him into the world of Elden Ring, Wuthering Waves, and Genshin Impact, amongst others.