X’s new DM feature, XChat, is rolling out in beta

X’s highly anticipated new direct messaging (DM) feature, XChat, has officially entered its beta testing phase. Select X users who subscribe to the platform’s premium service have reported gaining access to the new messaging system. Reverse engineer Nima Owji (@nima_owji), has confirmed to TechCrunch that XChat appears to be in the final stages of preparation for launch.

XChat is designed as an upgraded and more comprehensive version of X’s existing DM functionality, a feature that predates Elon Musk’s acquisition of the company. The current DM system has been showing its age, and XChat aims to bring it up to par with modern messaging standards.

Rumors surrounding XChat suggest a suite of advanced features are in development. These include group messaging, end-to-end encryption for enhanced security, a “vanishing mode” for ephemeral conversations, the ability to mark messages as unread for later follow-up, and support for file sharing. Furthermore, reports indicate that messages will be secured behind a four-digit passcode for an extra layer of privacy.

Interestingly, X announced on Thursday that it is temporarily halting its work on encrypted DMs. This decision may be directly related to the impending launch of XChat, as the new system would effectively replace the existing DM interface, rendering further development on the old system unnecessary. It’s worth noting that paid subscribers on X have had access to a limited version of encrypted messaging for the past two years.

Since acquiring Twitter, Elon Musk has repeatedly expressed his vision of creating a Signal-like messaging service integrated directly into X. His ambitions, shared on numerous occasions, suggest that XChat could be the realization of that goal, bringing a secure and feature-rich messaging experience to the X platform.