Fortnite’s Delulu Mode Brings Proximity Chat — and Thousands of Bans Already

Epic Games has rolled out Fortnite’s new limited-time “Delulu” mode this past weekend, and it hasn’t taken long for things to get messy.

The mode introduces proximity-based voice chat to the Battle Royale experience for the very first time, and while it’s been a hit with many players, it has also led to thousands of bans within just a few days.

For those who haven’t tried it yet, Delulu sticks to the familiar last-player-standing formula but adds a social twist. You can talk to anyone nearby, strike up alliances with a quick emote, or turn on them the moment it suits you.

It’s a feature that’s been available in Creative maps before, but never in the main Battle Royale setting. And as you might expect, giving players the ability to talk directly to strangers mid-match has created both hilarious and chaotic encounters.

Epic, however, isn’t letting the chaos go unchecked. According to a post on X, the studio confirmed that thousands of players were banned this past weekend alone for breaking community rules. The company also reminded players to report inappropriate voice chat behavior, saying those reports help them take swift action against rule breakers.

Interestingly, Delulu wasn’t dropped on the public servers right away. It first went into early access for select creators on September 19, 2025. Many of them praised the mode, with one calling it “some of the most fun” they’ve had in a Battle Royale in years. That early phase seemed relatively smooth, likely because most players had creator codes. But once the mode opened up to everyone the next day, reports of toxicity and racist behavior quickly surfaced across social media.

Even so, some players argue that the bans are a good thing, essentially allowing Epic to “purge” the community of bad actors. Whether you agree or not, it’s clear the developer is serious about keeping proximity chat under control.

If you’re curious to try it yourself, Delulu will return on September 26 at 9 AM ET and run until September 29 at 9 AM ET. Just make sure your voice chat is enabled and set to “Everybody” in the settings.