Xbox Party Chat review

Xbox Party Chat ranks sixth because it is the simplest option for an Xbox squad: the party is one button away on the console. Xbox support describes party chat as a way to join friends or other players with video or voice chat while playing together, watching a show or hanging out, and lists ways to start or join a party from an Xbox console, a Windows device, a mobile device or while cloud gaming. The Xbox mobile app lets players set up or join a party from a phone or tablet and chat with friends on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and Windows PC. Communication and family group settings let players and parents limit who can join. The limits are the walls around it. Everyone needs an Xbox account, there are no persistent channels, roles or bots, and Microsoft does not publish codec or bitrate details. We could not confirm a price statement for party chat on Microsoft's pages, so pricing is marked pending.

Who it is for

Xbox players and PC players who play Xbox games together.

Price

See vendor pricing (USD check pending).

US price check pending. See the vendor pricing page.

Key features

• Voice or video party chat while gaming, watching or hanging out
• Start or join parties from a console, Windows PC or phone
• Start a party while cloud gaming
• Communication settings to limit who can join
• Family group controls for children's accounts

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: Built into the console, so there is nothing extra to install
• Strength: Mobile app lets friends join from a phone or tablet
• Strength: Family settings for parents
• Weakness: Only reaches people with Xbox accounts
• Weakness: No persistent channels or community server features
• Weakness: Microsoft does not publish audio quality figures

Key facts

• Devices: Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows PC, mobile
• Chat types: Voice and video
• Cloud gaming: Start a party while cloud gaming
• Mobile app: Set up or join an Xbox party
• Controls: Privacy and family group settings

Where it ranks

Xbox Party Chat is No. 6 in our Best Voice Chat Apps for Gamers verdict.