> ## 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.

# Adding chat by using Microsoft Azure PlayFab Party

> Learn how PlayFab Party adds low-latency voice, text chat, and transcription to XBOX GDK games with cross-network support and PlayFab pricing details.

Use this topic to understand how [PlayFab Party](https://learn.microsoft.com/gaming/playfab/features/multiplayer/networking/) simplifies adding low-latency chat and data communication to your game in a way that's flexible, inclusive, and secure. Party is ideal for multiplayer implementations when a cloud-hosted dedicated server isn't wanted (sometimes called *peer-to-peer games* or *P2P games*). Party powers voice and text communications for social experiences within your app (for example, in-game squads or post-game lobbies), even if you're using a cloud server as the game host.

Party uses Azure Cognitive Services to transcribe user voice chat and synthesize text as speech, which was primarily designed as an accessibility aid. Typical usage of PlayFab Party voice chat is billed on a per-minute basis. For more information, see [PlayFab Party Pricing](https://learn.microsoft.com/gaming/playfab/features/multiplayer/networking/pricing). We recommend tying activation of this capability to an ease-of-access user setting.

<Note>Party also translates chat in real time. In anonymous matchmaking and international competitive games, these transcription and translation capabilities are a more engaging multiplayer experience.</Note>

A key goal of PlayFab Party (and our other multiplayer services) is to facilitate interoperable multiplayer infrastructure and cross-network gameplay. Verify that your multiplayer experiences comply with relevant platform policies for multiplayer and cross-network user activity.

<Note>It is recommended to use PlayFab Party over GameChat2 API.
For more information about integrating PlayFab Party for voice chat, see [Understanding how PlayFab Party chat works](/services/playfab/community/voice-communications/concepts-chat).</Note>

## See also

[PlayFab Party](/build/console-features/networking/game-mesh/playfab-party-intro-networking)

[PlayFab Party Overview](https://learn.microsoft.com/gaming/playfab/features/multiplayer/networking/)


## Related topics

- [Azure PlayFab Party](/build/console-features/networking/game-mesh/playfab-party-intro-networking.md)
- [Azure PlayFab Party Online Subsystem for Unreal](/build/console-features/networking/game-mesh/party-unreal-online-subsystem.md)
- [Azure PlayFab Party SDK for Unity](/build/console-features/networking/game-mesh/party-unity-plugin.md)
- [Using multiple PlayFab Party networks](/services/playfab/multiplayer/networking/concepts-multiple-networks.md)
- [Understanding How PlayFab Party chat works](/services/playfab/community/voice-communications/concepts-chat.md)