Do this first
The quick route
- Press the PS button, open Sound, and unmute the microphone.
- In the same Sound controls, make sure game voice chat is not muted.
- Open Settings › Sound › Microphone and select the intended input device.
- Use Adjust Microphone Level and confirm the meter responds to speech.
- Leave party chat or switch the voice-chat card to game chat.
- Update Big Walk and PS5 system software, restart, and test at close range.
Why the PS5 system test is not enough
A moving microphone meter proves the console receives input, but game voice can still be muted or the console can be focused on party chat. PlayStation's official troubleshooting separates input selection and mic level from the game-chat controls for that reason.
Retest the way Big Walk expects
Stand immediately beside another player in an open area. Big Walk uses proximity voice, so a distant player is a poor test partner. After the August update, quiet microphones should be normalized more effectively, but the designed drop-off distance remains.
If it still fails
Try another headset or the DualSense microphone to isolate the input device. Note whether text chat works, whether your mic level moves in PS5 settings, and whether the issue follows one account or one device. Send those details and the game's current version to PlayStation or Panic support rather than changing undocumented router settings.
Sources checked
Where this answer comes from
Official PS5 input, microphone-level, and game/party chat checks.
CommunityPS5 mic works on console but not in Big WalkCommunity symptom report used to prioritize the game-chat mute check.
Links and claims last checked August 14, 2026. Community sources describe reported symptoms, not guaranteed fixes.