Skate Proximity Chat is not available on October 13 when update 0.32.5 arrives. EA’s new voice feature starts its technical test on October 21, 2026, on the Isle of Grom only. To participate, you must have unlocked Hedgemont Level 2 or higher.
That means installing the update isn’t enough to turn Skate Proximity Chat on straight away. Grom closes from October 13 to October 20 and reopens for free before the voice test begins. If you can’t hear players or find a chat option, check the dates and access rules before changing your settings.
When does Skate Proximity Chat start and end?
The Skate Proximity Chat technical test runs from October 21 through November 3. It initially works only on the Isle of Grom, rather than throughout the city. EA has given the dates but not a precise October 21 start hour, so don’t assume it unlocks at midnight.
| Date | What’s happening |
|---|---|
| October 13 | Patch 0.32.5 arrives but proximity chat is not live |
| October 13–20 | Grom closed for event preparation |
| October 20, 6pm BST | Grom reopens for free access |
| October 21 | Grom proximity voice test begins |
| November 3 | Initial technical test finishes |
The Isle of Grom is free to visit from October 20 to November 3, so the Skate Proximity Chat test doesn’t require a Premium Pass or Rip Chips to reach the island. There is still a minimum progression requirement, though, which EA has confirmed separately.
How to unlock proximity chat in Skate
To use Skate Proximity Chat, your account must have reached Hedgemont Level 2. Full Circle introduced the restriction to reduce ban evasion and throwaway-account abuse during the voice test. Players who haven’t unlocked that neighbourhood level are excluded from the first phase.
- Reach Hedgemont Level 2 or above through normal neighbourhood progression.
- Wait until October 21, when the technical test begins.
- Travel to the Isle of Grom during its October 20–November 3 free-access period.
- Open the Comms wheel and check the microphone quick-toggle.
- Move near other eligible players while skating to hear position-based voice chat.
EA says quick-toggle microphone controls and keybinds are part of the feature, but it hasn’t published one universal shortcut for every platform. Check the Comms wheel and your controller/keybind setup. You don’t need to invent an extra quest or redeem a test invitation once you meet the announced requirements.
Why is Skate Proximity Chat not working?
The first reason Skate Proximity Chat might not work is that October 21 hasn’t arrived. Before then, there is no active test to join. Once it starts, players outside the Isle of Grom or below Hedgemont Level 2 also won’t meet the test’s rules.
- Before October 21: The proximity voice feature is not active yet.
- Outside Grom: The initial test is restricted to that island.
- Below Hedgemont Level 2: Raise your neighbourhood level first.
- Microphone muted: Check the Comms wheel, the selected input device and your platform’s voice permissions.
- Voices don’t fade during Throwdowns: EA lists a known issue with distance-based volume attenuation in Throwdowns.
There’s a difference between a disabled test and a technical audio problem. If Skate Proximity Chat isn’t enabled anywhere on October 13, that’s by design. After October 21, meeting the location and level requirements is the first place to start troubleshooting.
How does Skate’s proximity voice system work?
Skate Proximity Chat uses location-based voice volume. Nearby skaters should sound louder, and players further away should get quieter. Walls and other obstacles can muffle or reflect voices, making the surrounding environment part of the conversation rather than playing everyone at one fixed volume.
The test also prioritises connections when lots of people are nearby: party members first, then friends, then players who have been close to you longest. The game may mute less relevant background voice channels when the session is crowded, so hearing a smaller group isn’t necessarily a bug.
Does the test support text-to-speech?
Text-to-speech is not confirmed for the first Skate Proximity Chat test. Full Circle says it is developing a text-to-speech system for the full release in update 0.33. That doesn’t mean version 0.32.5 already includes the finished feature, so don’t expect text input to be read aloud in October’s test.
If you want to try the voice test, focus on being ready for October 21: progress Hedgemont, make sure the game is updated, and use the Comms wheel on Grom. The island will be free at that time, so the Level 2 restriction is more relevant than paying to travel there.
Related Guides
More guides for skate. update 0.32.5:
Official source: EA and Full Circle’s skate. update information.
