Google Duo raises video chat limit amid coronavirus pandemic

If you’re still looking for that perfect group video chat app, maybe it’s time to take another look at Google Duo. 

Android Central noticed that Google Duo increased the maximum number of participants in a video call to 12, up from 8. 

In a tweet, Google senior director of product and design Sana Zahari announced the change, promising “more to come,” without sharing any further details. 

In another tweet, Zahari said the company is “monitoring all user feedback across Duo, Messages and Dialer and prioritizing top requests.”

The change comes at a time when a significant portion of the population of Europe and the U.S. is stuck at home due to the ongoing coronavirus outbreak. This brings an increased need for group video chat apps, and although the choice is pretty wide, it’s the little details, such as performance in less-than-optimal internet speeds, that decide which app a user will prefer.

Google Duo — one of Google’s many chat apps — hasn’t seen a huge amount of traction since its launch in 2016, but it is one of the simplest and speediest options out there. 

COVID-19 — the disease caused by coronavirus — has so far killed more than 21,000 and infected more than 465,000 people. The outbreak has been worsening in the U.S. in recent weeks, with more than 82,100 confirmed cases and 1,195 deaths.