News: X’s Direct Messaging feature will be rebranded as ‘XChat’

Elon Musk’s ongoing mission to reshape Twitter’s identity continues, and the next feature on the potential chopping block seems to be Direct Messages. According to information from X employees and independent researchers, the classic DM tab may soon be replaced by a new feature called XChat.

The change was first hinted at by Zach Warunek, a software engineer at X, who responded to a user reporting issues with DM message requests. Warunek stated that the existing DM tab would be “deleted soon,” clarifying that the entire DM tab would be removed, not just the requests section.

App researcher and web developer Nima Owji supported this theory by reporting on X that XChat is already in use internally by X employees. Based on screenshot leaks from other users, it appears that XChat is being positioned as a comprehensive competitor in the messaging space — featuring encrypted messaging, file sharing (including PDFs), disappearing messages, unread status toggles, message deletion for all participants, and voice messages that will be introduced sometime after launch.

If you’re interested, Owji also shared a screenshot of XChat, though we cannot independently verify its authenticity. At first glance, the most significant difference seems to be the addition of a PIN-verification tab.

This development aligns with Musk’s broader vision of transforming X into an all-in-one platform. Earlier this year, the X CEO mentioned that he plans to stop using a phone number altogether, opting instead to manage all texts and calls exclusively through X. While there is no official release date for XChat yet, discussions among employees suggest that its rollout is on the horizon.