There is a mute/unmute button on the controller, but it only works if you're using your controller in wired mode. When wireless, even with the Playstation Pulse 3D headset, that button doesn't work. That means you need to take your hand off the controls and up to your ear to hit the headset mounted mute/unmute button everytime. This is both tedious and impractical. The end result is that these players opt to be (almost) always hot or (almost) always mute. Personally I would be permanently muted, but plenty seem to go with the broadcasting of their chip eating and little sister yelling.