This severely impacts users who rely on chat for communication but also need earmuff mode, including Deaf and mute individuals.

Deaf users use earmuff mode for various reasons, such as helping those who are hard of hearing focus on specific sounds in noisy environments or enabling auto-captions to capture speech more accurately.

Additionally, this change limits world creators’ control over audio settings. Previously, they could create “no-voice zones” where players could type but not speak. Now, that’s no longer possible, removing an important option for Deaf creators designing cultural spaces.

Voice and chat settings should be separate, with a toggle to restore previous functionality. This is a major oversight but one that can be easily fixed.

This affects an oppressed group and community, one that does not primarily use English. Many of these forums and voting systems are completely inaccessible to us. VRChat should take the initiative and speak out for accessibility.

please fix this!! earmuff mode and chat box removal should remain separate.

French

Hello the company VRChat

I am writing to express my admiration for the work done by VRChat.

Clarity of communication:

Allows you to clearly distinguish between when speech is active and when it is not, improving the understanding of conversations.

Concentration:

Reduces unnecessary visual distractions when no one is speaking, promoting concentration on the cat's written content.

Accessibility:

Beneficial for people with auditory or visual processing difficulties, by allowing them to focus on the most relevant communication channel.

Flexibility:

Offers users the option to choose whether or not they want to show the chat box during periods of voice silence.

Interruption management!

Helps to reduce visual interruptions during presentations or important discussions by temporarily hiding the chat box when no one is speaking.

Please accept, L'Entreprise VRChat, the expression of my highest consideration

Good for you

Getomeulou the CEO of MSLC

-------------------------------------------------------------

English

“Hello VRchat Company, I am writing to express my admiration for the work accomplished by VRchat.”

Clarity of communication:

Allows to clearly distinguish the moments when speech is active from those when it is not, improving the understanding of conversations.

Concentration:

Reduces unnecessary visual distractions when no one is speaking, promoting concentration on the written content of the chat.

Accessibility:

Beneficial for people with auditory or visual processing difficulties, allowing them to focus on the most relevant communication channel.

Flexibility: Offers users the ability to choose whether or not to display the chat box during periods of voice silence.

Interruption management: Allows to reduce visual interruptions during presentations or important discussions, by temporarily hiding the chat box when no one is speaking.

“Please accept, VRChat Company, the expression of my highest consideration. Yours sincerely, Getomeulou, CEO of MSLC.

Please Fix! people who use chat boxes to communicate are effected by this!

This is a huge accessibility issue for people who are only able to communicate with chat boxes! Please fix this!

Yes please, make it a tickbox option. Sign worlds could use this.

Would be nice to silently com with friends in those chill worlds while still having body language in a way.