Proximity chat is finally making its way to Fortnite, with the long-awaited feature set to launch in the new Delulu limited-time mode on Friday, September 19, 2025. Here’s a rundown that mixes fact, community chatter, and a dash of personal reaction because, honestly, this is one of those updates that could rewrite the Fortnite playbook for weekends ahead.
When Is Proximity Chat Coming To Fortnite?
It’s official: Fortnite’s proximity chat arrives Friday, September 19, 2025. Yes, after years of leaker teases, Epic experimenting in Creative modes, and plenty of “when are they adding it?” posts clogging social feeds, the feature makes its proper debut in Battle Royale, but with a twist. The Delulu mode, weekends-only for now, is where proximity chat comes alive. Want to catch early feels? Creators get one day of early access on September 18. Still remember chatting through walls in Warzone? Those days are gone in Delulu, you’ll be talking to anyone who’s, well, close enough to shoot at you. Or form a shaky alliance.
All About Delulu: Alliances, Betrayals... Chaos
Delulu is a Zero Build playlist hosting 80 players. You drop solo, or with a buddy, but the genius (and genuine chaos) is pairing up mid-match using proximity voice. Epic made “betrayal” a selling point here, and if ever a mode encouraged wild teaming, it’s this one. Here's what stands out:
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No building means playing is more about gun skill, movement, and, for once, actual social dynamics.
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You can strike up a squad, break it instantly, or go full maverick and see who’ll trust you for five seconds.
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Got chat fatigue? You can mute proximity chat in settings and just play the mode for the chaos, but trust me, that means missing half the fun.
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I’m pretty sure there’ll be at least one viral betrayal. Two players buddy up, share loot, and then... boom, someone gets backstabbed. That’s Fortnite at its unpredictable best.
The Community Buzz: Hope, Humor, And a Little Fear
If you’ve spent time lurking Reddit threads or Twitter/X replies, you’ve seen the reactions: a wild mix of excitement and concern. On one hand, people can’t wait for the trolling, last-minute alliances, and what’ll surely be an explosion of meme-worthy moments. One streamer joked, “Epic doesn’t know it yet, but this mode is going to give us hours of the funniest compilations before they tweak it later.” And honestly, that’s probably true.
The flip side: Some folks, especially parents, are a bit nervous about toxicity. Fortnite’s player base is young, and anyone who’s ever opened the party chat knows how quickly things can get spicy. Epic has filters and reporting built in, but if you’ve played enough shooters, you know that nothing’s perfect. Sometimes it’s a wild party, sometimes it’s a bit much.
How to Prep: Quick, Non-Fancy Checklist
Want the genuine Delulu experience and all those alliances and betrayals? Here’s what to do before the big drop:
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Update your game. No update, no new mode.
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Set voice chat to “Everyone.” Otherwise, proximity chat won’t work, and you’ll just be talking to yourself.
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Decide if you’re going in with friends or solo and looking for new buddies (temporarily).
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Maybe practice forgiveness. Just in case your new bestie decides you’re expendable.
What’s Next: More Than Just One Mode?
Right now, proximity chat is confirmed just for Delulu and custom Creative maps. If things go well, and toxicity doesn’t torpedo the party, maybe Epic rolls this out wider but don’t count on it until the community gives the feature a thumbs up. For now, it’s all about weekends, wild alliances, and stories told in real-time, right in your lobby.
I’m genuinely looking forward to seeing how Fortnite players make this weird, wonderful social mechanic their own. Expect chaos. Expect laughter. And expect at least one “I thought we were friends!” moment every match.
Want to squad up next Friday? Just make sure you don’t trust anyone too much. It’s Fortnite. That means anything can happen.
