Meta has added a new “voice mode” feature to its social VR platform Horizon Worlds which garbles strangers’ speech, transforming it into “pleasant gibberish”.

The new “voice mode” in Horizon Worlds garbles voice chats that come from non-friends on the platform.

Although you, by default, still hear voices from users close by at the same volume, the new feature provides you with a “garble voices” toggle that will make those chats “unintelligible, friendly sounds.” The new feature is set to roll out in the coming weeks.

An icon appears when strangers voices are garbled
An icon appears when strangers’ voices are garbled

Meta shared a screengrab of the new garble voice feature and says that it is designed to make users “feel more comfortable or safe.”

The feature comes following a slew of user reports of harassment in the social VR platform which came out of the beta last year.

Meta has been implementing various safety measures in Horizon Worlds. The personal boundary system which gives your avatar approximately four feet of personal space and prevents other users from getting inside this space personal space in the metaverse was introduced in February this year and is on by default.

The toggle feature for the new Voice Mode
The toggle feature for the new Voice Mode

When you garble the speech of those in close proximity using the Voice Mode, you will see an icon above your display name which shows you that the toggle is on and you can’t hear the voice chats from strangers around you. However, there is also the option of temporarily unmuting the voice chats from strangers. This is done by raising the in-game hand to your ear with the motion controller.

Meta shared a screenshot of the Voice Mode feature in which it appears alongside a separate toggle that allows users to completely mute non-friends. Allowing users to still hear the “pleasant gibberish” serves as a compromise that lets them be in the general social hubbub in the room without experiencing potentially abusive comments from strangers therein.

The new safety feature was announced alongside a Horizon Worlds launch in the UK which is the third country where the social VR service has been introduced after US and Canada.

Horizon Worlds is central to Meta’s metaverse pitch and is a social VR environment that allows creators to build their own levels that can be experienced by other players.

https://virtualrealitytimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/An-icon-appears-when-strangers-voices-are-garbled-600x399.pnghttps://virtualrealitytimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/An-icon-appears-when-strangers-voices-are-garbled-150x90.pngKristin HummelGamingTechnologyMeta has added a new “voice mode” feature to its social VR platform Horizon Worlds which garbles strangers’ speech, transforming it into “pleasant gibberish”. The new “voice mode” in Horizon Worlds garbles voice chats that come from non-friends on the platform. Although you, by default, still hear voices from users close...VR, Oculus Rift, and Metaverse News - Cryptocurrency, Adult, Sex, Porn, XXX