Funnel Runners Voice Chat

Diegetic Communication Systems

Funnel Runners treats communication as gameplay, not just a menu toggle. Supernova Studios LLC pairs proximity voice chat with walkie-talkies and an in-world van broadcast radio so co-op squads coordinate naturally during 20-minute runs. Shouting across a suburban yard feels different from broadcasting to a teammate three blocks away—and that distinction shapes how teams loot and repair.

Proximity Voice Chat

Nearby players hear you at full volume; distant runners fade out or become inaudible. Proximity chat reinforces spatial awareness—if you can hear a teammate, they are close enough to share tools or warn about downed power lines. It also creates tension: split squads lose verbal contact unless they use the radio.

• Close range: House-to-house looting pairs and repair helpers
• Mid range: Street-level storm callouts during touchdowns
• Scream amplification: Real-life screaming carries louder and further across the map
• Out of range: Silent beyond proximity—switch to walkie-talkie or radio
• Push-to-talk: PC binding on our controls page

Walkie-Talkies

Walkie-talkies are always in your inventory. Grab the device and interact to transmit — your voice reaches every walkie-talkie that is powered ON across the map. This fills the gap between proximity range and full broadcast. The most common mistake is forgetting to turn your unit on before splitting from the squad.

Van Broadcast Radio

The van radio system extends communication to the full squad via roof megaphones. Your voice is audible map-wide. Use broadcast for urgent tornado warnings and repair status — not constant chatter. Read the full communication systems guide for Devlog #007 details.

Power the electrical system early enough to use radio before the late-run chaos. A squad that cannot broadcast loses minutes to runners physically returning to the van just to ask if fuel arrived.

Microphone Activity Indicator (Patch 0.34.19)

Patch 0.34.19 added a microphone activity indicator on the HUD so teammates know when you are transmitting on proximity or walkie-talkie. Toggle visibility in game settings if the icon clutters your storm readouts. Patch 0.34.23 increased base voice chat volume after players reported teammates were too quiet during chaotic mid-run weather.

Voice in Team Strategy

Effective voice discipline wins lobbies. Assign a storm caller, a repair lead, and loot runners who announce pickups on radio. Our team strategies guide maps callout vocabulary to van problem priorities so eight-player groups do not talk over each other.

Compare voice-heavy co-op with silent solo play when deciding how to experience the game.

Hardware and Etiquette

Use headsets to prevent echo in proximity chat. Hosts running lobbies on modest upload connections should limit open-mic background noise. Steam voice settings may supplement in-game systems—confirm options at launch.

Available at Launch

Proximity and radio ship with the Steam release on July 16, 2026 at $14.99. Read how to play and wishlist on Steam.