22 Mar, 2011
The problem of temperamental and sometimes poor quality voice chat is a blight on multiplayer gamers far and wide, but Valve are determined improve the quality of voice chat for Steam by introducing the SILK voice codec, better known as that developed and used by Skype.
The new codec software will be incorporated into the Steam client via a patch with it’s intention to be available for use in both one-on-one and group chat. The update comes as part of series of improvements made to the Steam client of late, following on directly from the Steam Guard digi download that Gabe Newell himself was confident would propose a significant hurdle to the even the most seasoned hackers in relation to account security. In an impassioned speech at the GDC, Newell so confident in Valve’s new measures for their popular client, presented to the attendee’s his username and password and challenged them to attempt hacking his account.
With the announcement last year of Steam being introduced on the Playstation 3 following the imminent release of the sequel to it’s cult puzzler Portal on April 22nd, is there finally hope for some half way decent voice chat feature on the PS3? Here’s hoping!
The new codec update is available now for all Steam users.
Source: CVG
Yes please. Steam voice, especially in say L4D2, is so bad. This makes me very happy to read!
Yeah it is a very good thing! Especially considering how many people I hear of using Skype instead of in game voice chat full stop.