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X (formerly Twitter) appears to be preparing to retire its long-standing Direct Messages (DMs) system in favor of a more robust, encrypted messaging platform dubbed XChat. The transition, confirmed by a company software engineer, suggests a significant overhaul of how users communicate on the platform.
On Tuesday, Zach Warunek, a software engineer at X, stated in a reply to another user that “the whole entire DM’s will be gone soon,” indicating that DMs as users currently know them will be replaced altogether. While Warunek later clarified that X won’t remove messaging altogether, his comments suggest a full code rewrite is in progress, setting the stage for the new XChat system.
No, not like request messages but like the whole entire DM’s will be gone soon
— Zach Warunek (@ZachWarunek) April 16, 2025
What Is XChat?
XChat is positioned to be a comprehensive messaging platform rather than a simple update to existing DMs. It reportedly includes features inspired by secure messaging apps like Signal and user-friendly functions found in Facebook Messenger. According to leaked screenshots and insider reports, XChat will feature
- End-to-end encryption, ensuring complete privacy for users
- File transfers between users
- The ability to delete individual messages for everyone in a conversation
- An option to mark messages as unread
- A PIN verification system for secure access
The system enhancements illustrate that XChat offers users more robust secure messaging capabilities than traditional DM functions.
Elon Musk has implemented the messaging system enhancement as part of his comprehensive strategy to establish a unified communication platform. Musk disclosed in February that he will discontinue the use of his phone number for future communication, as X will serve as his exclusive platform for video conversations and messages.
The action is consistent with Musk’s initiatives, which include the introduction of the X Money payment system in partnership with Visa. This system will transform X into an all-encompassing application that meets the demands of social media, messaging, and payment.
When Will XChat Launch?
Although an official release date has not yet been established, Warunek’s public statements and numerous released items suggest that a launch is imminent. Recently, photographs have been released that illustrate the replacement of the “Messages” sidebar entry with XChat icons, which has raised expectations regarding its imminent deployment.
