Dark Souls PC specs revealed, microphone required for multiplayer

In a curious change from the console version of the game, it looks like the Dark Souls: Prepare to Die Edition for PC includes voice chat support for multiplayer. In fact, it’s mandatory.

According to the PC specs listed on the game’s Steam page, “multiplayer requires microphone headset support”.

Dark Souls features a somewhat unique co-op and PvP system, using random – and, significantly, anonymous – matchmaking to put players together. Under certain conditions, players can enter another player’s game, either to assist or to engage them in one-on-one duels.

All voice communication between players is disabled in the Xbox version, with the game switching to an offline mode if the player is in party or private chat. The big idea is to maintain an immersive single-player experience, with other players acting as impersonal NPCs instead. It’s a bit weird, maybe, but it’s Japanese.

It’s not yet clear how voice chat will be incorporated into the PC version, but that it’s there at all is, at least, quite remarkable.

The complete minimum PC specs for the game include:

AUTHOR
Tarryn van der Byl