Platform: PC
Bug description: Communication Menu (Menu > Options > Controls > Communication > Communication > Communication Menu) is active without holding the bind for it resulting in the communication menu displaying on screen indefinitely. This prevents the player from using the MB1 (left mouse) and MB2 (right mouse) binds during gameplay, leading to a situation where you cannot use your primary or secondary fire (assuming you have the default settings for those binds). Using any of the options available in the communication menu does not remove it. Pressing the MB1 (left-click) bind opens the voice line menu, attempting to use any of the voice lines inside the menu will use the corresponding voice line but the communications menu will return after. Pressing the MB2 (right-click) bind opens the emote menu, attempting to use any of the emotes does the corresponding emote but the communications menu will return after. Pressing the Menu (esc) bind opens up the menu screen but does not remove the communication menu when exiting the menu screen. Pressing the Communication (C) bind does not remove the communication menu.
Reason why this is a bug: The communication menu should only be activated while holding down the bind for the communication menu. If you press the bind for the communication menu and then let go of the bind the menu should disappear. This majorly disrupts gameplay as it can occur during the match (and in this case specifically during overtime).
Timeline up to the bug: I was playing the game mode “Stadium” as the hero “Junkerqueen”. I was using the skin “Jötunn”. I had the Powers “Merciless Magnetism”, “Reckoner’s Roar”, and “Chop Chop”. I had the items “Scav Scraps”, “Thick Skull”, “Booming Voice”, and a few other items that were common/rare rarity (I forget which ones and match history no longer shows the match). The map was “Arena Victoriae”. This game was match point for the enemy team. The enemy had 99% control of the point and I used Junker Queen’s ability “Commanding Shout” to walk onto the point, triggering overtime. As I got near an enemy the bug occurred ( I think the enemy was either Mei or a healer such as Mercy/Ana/Juno). I attempted to get rid of the menu by clicking all the different options. When nothing happened I attempted to use an emote but the communication menu reappeared. I tried to press the hotkey for the Communications Menu but nothing happened. I pressed the ESC key to open the main menu but the communication menu persisted. I did another emote again but the communication menu would still not go away. Because I was useless without being able to use my MB1 or MB2 and I was busy trying to fix the bug somehow my entire team died and then I ended up dying last. My team lost the round and we lost the match. The bug did not stop when I died, it actually stopped right before I died when I was around 150 health
Attempts at recreating the bug: So far I have been unsuccessful at recreating the bug inside the Practice Range. I have tried spamming the bind while using MB1, MB2, and all of Junker Queen’s abilities but nothing seems to work. This could mean the bug is specific to matches against other players, the Stadium game mode, specific Powers/Items, or the map Arena Victoriae.
Recommended Fix (I know it’s not that simple/easy):
- Put a cooldown on using the communication menu.
1a. If done this way it should also reset the input for the communications menu back to default (unpressed) to possibly prevent the communication menu from reopening as soon as the cooldown ends. - Make it so MB1 and MB2 close the communication menu if you’re using them but not selecting a specific option.
If anyone else has ever experienced this bug (especially recorded or on video) please provide the details of when it happened such as your hero, the map, the game mode, etc. If you would also like to share your platform, keyboard/mouse combination, and any apps you use while playing that could help narrow it down from a bug to a hardware/software issue.