Game development studios are embracing a new technology poised to revolutionize communication in multiplayer games. VoicePatrol recently launched its real-time AI voice protection technology, aiming to foster safer gaming communities while avoiding the overreach often associated with traditional moderation methods.
Based in Menlo Park, California, VoicePatrol was founded in 2023 and, after a year of R&D, launched its first product in Q2 2024. Led by CEO and machine learning engineer Matei Trebien, the company currently employs eight people and has raised millions of dollars in funding, though the exact amount remains undisclosed.
A Unique Approach to Protection
VoicePatrol's founders deliberately avoided traditional "moderation" strategies, viewing them as overly intrusive. Trebien explains: "'Moderation' today implies control—an often-over-corrective approach that stifles genuine interaction. We focus on protection: swiftly addressing the most serious threats, not monitoring every conversation or every friendly 'f**k you'."
This targeted approach enables VoicePatrol to identify and address violations within 30 seconds of their occurrence, ensuring 100% audio coverage while allowing game studio human moderators to focus on truly critical events.
Significant Business Impact
According to VoicePatrol's data, game studios using its service saw a 55% reduction in severe incidents within the first two weeks, a 24% decrease in player churn after a quarter, and an 11% increase in revenue. These improvements are attributed to the effective reduction of severe toxic behavior, leading to increased player retention.
Jack Southard, CEO of Trass Games (developer of Yeeps: Hide & Seek), states: "Working with VoicePatrol feels more like collaborating with a development team than a vendor. They are responsive, adapted to our development team's systems, and helped our human moderators focus on what matters."
Competitive Advantages
VoicePatrol's key competitive advantages include:
- Integration in just four minutes, compared to days or weeks for competitors
- Automatic handling of violations within 30 seconds of occurrence
- A cost-effective price of just 8 cents per audio hour, making comprehensive protection accessible to studios of all sizes
- Focus on the most severe toxic and illegal events, avoiding over-moderation
Furthermore, VoicePatrol prioritizes privacy, only receiving audio, timestamps, and a randomized unique device ID. Audio not flagged as "harmful" is immediately deleted from the system, ensuring data security.
For game studios seeking to enhance player experience, improve retention, and build stronger communities, VoicePatrol's real-time AI voice protection technology offers a cost-effective and efficient solution.
