Although games already support 3D audio in the form of 5.1 and 7.1 surround sound, in-game audio between players still lags behind. There is no dimension in the voices you hear when playing with friends online – you cannot tell if the player is behind you or on the side. Dolby have solved this problem with their latest product: Axon.

Dolby Axon represents the future of voice communication for online games and virtual worlds. Crafted from the ground up specifically for game developers. Distance attenuation makes voices become louder as players approach one another within the game, or softer as the distance between players increases. Surround panning helps players locate competitors spatially within the game environment.

Dolby Axon also features an occlusion engine that further enhances the realism of voice communication. Because the Dolby Axon server dynamically responds to game geometry, players are able to hear around corners, for example, but not through walls. Likewise, the voice of a player who steps behind a solid barrier becomes harder to hear, just as it would in real life.

Voice fonts are another Dolby Axon feature. These allow players to alter their voices to better match their in-game personas. Someone with a naturally high voice, for example, can adopt the deep, menacing voice of a mercenary.