> ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://devdocs.xbox.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # PlayFab Party overview > Overview of PlayFab Party, the cross-platform, low-latency voice chat, text chat, and data communication service for multiplayer games on all major platforms. PlayFab Party is a low-latency chat and data communication solution for cross-platform and cross-device multiplayer games. The voice and text features in Party can be used as a standalone chat solution. For multiplayer games that use a server-client authoritative architecture to curtail competitive cheating concerns or support devices with limited resources, consider multiplayer servers like [PlayFab multiplayer servers](/services/playfab/multiplayer/servers) to host custom, dedicated game logic in a dynamically scaling cloud environment and use Party for chat communication. This topic provides a high-level overview of Party features. For details, see [Party features](/services/playfab/multiplayer/networking/party-features). ## Features Party is designed for use on many platforms like Android, iOS, Linux, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation®, PC, and XBOX. Party also provides C/C++ SDKs and SDKs for use with game engines like Unity and Unreal. For a complete list, see [Party SDKs](/services/playfab/multiplayer/networking/party-sdks/overview). * [Interoperable multiplayer infrastructure](/services/playfab/multiplayer/networking/party-features#interoperable-multiplayer-infrastructure) * Cross-network/cross-platform multiplayer game experiences. * [Low-latency secure data communication](/services/playfab/multiplayer/networking/party-features#low-latency-secure-data-communication) * Industry-standard encryption and authentication. * Cross-platform mesh: automatic low-latency cloud relay or select regions yourself, choosing from Azure regions distributed across the globe * Direct peer-to-peer functionality. * Background Quality of Service (QoS) measurements. * [Flexible topology design possibilities](/services/playfab/multiplayer/networking/party-features#flexible-topology-design-possibilities) * Everyone-to-everyone. * Constrained to "teams" or game-defined "channels" and more. * [Accessible voice and text chat](/services/playfab/multiplayer/networking/party-features#accessible-voice-and-text-chat) * Real-time speech-to-text and text-to-speech. * Real-time translation for text and voice by using Azure Cognitive Services. * Ability to add real-time custom voice effects like spatial sound. * [Capabilities designed for multiplayer games](/services/playfab/multiplayer/networking/party-features#capabilities-designed-for-multiplayer-games) * Efficient game states and logic delivery. * Integrates with custom discovery systems—players finding other players. * Policy enforcement for connectivity and communication. Party is included at no extra cost in [Foundation Mode](/services/playfab/get-started/mode-overview) for eligible XBOX ecosystem developers. For other usage, see [PlayFab pricing](https://playfab.com/pricing/). To learn about the meters that drive billing, see [Party pricing](/services/playfab/pricing/meters/meters#party). For guidance on combining Party with other XBOX and PlayFab multiplayer services, see [Multiplayer design guidance](/services/xbox-services/multiplayer/overviews/multiplayer-design-guidance-xbox-pc-gdk). If you are interested, here is a video of our presentation at Microsoft Game Dev 2021. The presentation explains the above Party features in greater detail with demos and includes a quickstart tutorial.