Quick answer

First ask whether the missing audio matches the player’s intended BOMBANANA! role restriction. Deaf is explicitly described as unable to hear, while the three-role design means the team must not assume every player shares the same voice channel. If a player who should receive or send the relevant communication cannot do so, update to the current build, retest in the lobby and note the exact symptom. The official v1.0.1 hotfix addressed distorted voice, cases where players could not hear or speak, and voice audio remaining on the report panel.

Do not treat every “can’t hear” report as a microphone bug, and do not treat an abnormal missing channel as a puzzle rule. The role screen, current patch and repeatable test decide which path applies.

Separate the intended boundary from a failure

| Symptom | First interpretation | Next check | | --- | --- | --- | | Deaf player cannot hear voice | This may be the intended Deaf role boundary. | Confirm the current role and use visual/gesture handoffs. | | A player outside the intended restriction cannot hear anyone | Treat it as a possible technical issue. | Test in the lobby, confirm the current build and record who is affected. | | A player cannot speak but the role is expected to use voice | Treat it as a possible technical issue. | Check the current input/device path and retest after the v1.0.1 update. | | Voice is distorted or persists on the report panel | This matches a symptom named in the official hotfix. | Confirm the game is updated and record whether it repeats. |

The official store description gives the core role boundaries but not a complete audio matrix for every interaction. Follow the current role panel where it supplies a more specific channel state.

Test voice chat safely

  1. Identify the role. Record whether the player is Blind, Deaf or Mute for the failed test.
  2. Test in the lobby. The launch materials describe the lobby as a place for the three players to communicate before a run; use it to separate a session issue from a puzzle moment.
  3. Confirm the build. Install the current game update, including the v1.0.1 hotfix boundary recorded by the official announcement.
  4. Check the local input path. Confirm the intended microphone, mute state and system permission without changing unrelated game files.
  5. Repeat one controlled call. Have one player speak, one player confirm receipt and record exactly who cannot hear or speak.
  6. Use visual fallback. If the role or technical channel blocks voice, use the agreed gestures and protocol from How to Play and Communication instead of guessing.

What the v1.0.1 hotfix says

The official September 3 announcement lists fixes for cracking and distorted voice chat, cases where some players could not hear or speak, and voice chat remaining audible in 3D on the Report panel after returning to the lobby. The same announcement records random crashes as a known issue at that time. It does not promise that every later audio report has the same cause.

If the current build still reproduces one of these symptoms, report the role, platform, lobby/run stage, exact behavior and repeatability. Keep random crashes on a separate support report instead of turning this page into a general crash guide.

Common voice-chat mistakes

Testing the Deaf role as though it were a broken microphone

Check the intended role boundary before changing device settings. A team can still use visual or gesture signals when a role cannot hear.

Retesting only during a chaotic level

Use the lobby and one controlled call first. That makes it easier to identify whether the failure is role-specific, session-specific or technical.

Assuming a hotfix removes every future audio bug

The official notes describe specific fixes and a dated build. Keep a current reproduction path for any remaining symptom.

Frequently asked questions

Why can’t my Deaf Monkey hear voice chat? The official store description explicitly says Deaf cannot hear, so first use the intended visual/gesture path. If another role also loses its expected channel, diagnose it as a possible technical issue.

What did BOMBANANA! v1.0.1 fix? The official hotfix lists distorted voice, some players being unable to hear or speak, and voice audio persisting on the Report panel.

What should I do if I still cannot speak? Confirm the role, update the game, test one controlled call in the lobby, check the local input path and record the exact repeatable result for support.

Sources

Last verified: September 6, 2026. Exact channel behavior remains role- and build-dependent; use the current role screen and a controlled lobby reproduction.