A solution for proximity chat

Tl;dr make it so that proximity chat is garbled, but retains emotion, unless the user activates an in-game device

After seeing that Bungie was abandoning proximity chat, I had an idea that would allow you to get around unwanted in-game toxicity, with an in-lore solution.

Teams of runners would likely want to ensure that their plans aren't overheard, so what if they all wore voice scramblers as a team. You can't stop your words from carrying on the wind, but only your team with the correct decryption key could understand you. To everyone else you sound like a Combine soldier or Star Wars droid.

That's how everyone would start in Marathon, but eventually you'd come across a device that worked as a universal translator, allowing you to listen in on the enemy team. Most likely that wouldn't actually pose as any kind of advantage, but by turning it on, you're saying that it's ok with you to hear how a 10 year old would make love to your mom.

This has the advantage of allowing you or the enemy to gloat, in a garbled, safe way, but stopping toxicity from hitting the ears of those that don't want it. I think if there was an audio translation that didn't just sound like a mess, but had some artistry to it, it could actually sound cool and be a value add to gameplay, making it seem more alien and futuristic.

If your own team is toxic that's different, but a quick mute setting and bad behavior reporting for your team is easier to implement.

Hell, you could even find items that make your modified voice sound different from other people's, adding another bit of customization to your character.

If this already exists forgive me. I'm not a big multiplayer guy at all, but I'm old enough to have played some Marathon back in the day, and I've already fallen in love with their revamped aesthetic. However the game turns out I'll definitely give it a shot.

But if Bungie ever sees this and implements it, I'd appreciate some swag 😊