Product updates, behind-the-scenes notes, and what we're building next.
Update
Code together, build apps, and a new look
August 18, 2026
A big one. Rift now has a place to write code together, a real way to build your own apps, and a brand-new typeface across the whole product. The highlights:
The Codebase channel. A shared mini code repo inside your server - real files and folders, syntax highlighting for dozens of languages, and live cursors so you can see exactly where everyone else is typing. Anyone with permission to chat can edit.
Build your own apps. The Rift App SDK is live on npm (npm i @modeminc/rift-sdk). Apps render a native block UI inside Rift and run on your own machine over an outbound connection, so there are no ports to open and nothing to upload. The developer portal now has a clean split between message Bots and interactive Apps.
Rift Sans. A new typeface built for Rift now runs across the entire app for a sharper, more consistent look.
DMs, without leaving. The DM popout is now a compact floating window you can drag anywhere, so you can read and reply to your DMs while staying in a server.
Animated servers. Server icons and banners can be GIFs now, and you can set both right when you create a server.
Custom invite links, free. Give your server a memorable link like modeminc.com/rift/invite/yourteam, with no tier required.
As always, more soon.
Update
A cleaner Rift, and cosmetics for everyone
August 13, 2026
We've spent the last few weeks polishing Rift end to end - the look, the feel, and who gets the fun stuff. Here's what's new:
Click to reply. Click any message to reply to it, and the message you're answering gets a blue line down its side so the thread is easy to follow.
A whole new coat of paint. A big colour and contrast pass so chat, panels, dividers and code blocks all sit together instead of feeling mismatched.
Cosmetics are free. Custom Display Name Styles, profile colours, banners and animated avatars now stay with your account no matter your tier. The only paid perks are the supporter badge, higher streaming quality, and larger uploads.
Clearer badges. Owner, Admin, Team and Beta Tester each show a labelled pill with its own icon, so you can tell them apart at a glance.
Built for everyone. A new Accessibility section lets you set chat text size, interface zoom, UI density and message spacing, and poll results now include a pie chart.
Plus a pile of fixes: scrolling up no longer snaps you back down, custom background videos play their sound, and code blocks highlight properly with a copy button. More soon.
Launch
Rift is now in open beta
June 12, 2026
Rift is in open beta - free to use right now. Servers, channels, voice, video, screen share with desktop audio, custom backgrounds, forums, calendars and more - all in one place. Rift reaches its full 1.0 release on Friday, January 19, 2029.
We've been building in the open and shipping updates daily, and we'll keep doing that all the way to 1.0. Create your account now and start using Rift today.
Release
Calendars get editable events
June 10, 2026
Server calendars just got more flexible. Whoever posts an event can now reopen it and change the details - title, time, location, cover, and how often it repeats - without having to delete and recreate it. Server moderators can edit any event, too.
It's a small change that removes a real annoyance: plans change, and now your calendar can keep up. Just hover an event and hit the pencil.
Feature
Make any space yours with custom backgrounds
June 7, 2026
You can now set a custom background - including looping video - behind your chat. Drop in a link or pick a local file on the desktop app, then tune it to taste:
Adjust the background's volume independently, or muffle it so it sits under your conversation.
Your recent background links are saved so you can switch between favorites.
Text automatically brightens and gains a subtle halo so it stays readable over busy scenes.
Custom backgrounds, animated avatars and the other cosmetic flourishes are free for everyone - grab Core if you want to support Rift and pick up the supporter badge.
Feature
See who's where with device presence
June 5, 2026
Presence now shows how someone's connected - whether they're on the desktop app, the web, or a VR headset - with a small icon next to their name. Calls show a shared timer so everyone sees the same call length, right down to the channel list.
We also added a Devices section in Settings so you can see every session signed into your account, where it's connecting from, and sign out the ones you don't recognize.
Safety
Meet Warden, our smarter moderation
May 30, 2026
Warden - Rift's content protection - now sees through the tricks people use to slip slurs past automated systems: symbol swaps, extra spacing, and leetspeak. The same protection now covers usernames, display names, and profile text, so public-facing identity stays clean.
When a message is blocked, you'll see a clear, professional notice instead of a confusing error. Read more about our approach on the Safety page.
Preview
Meet Rift
May 1, 2026
Rift is a communication platform from ModemINC - servers, channels, voice, video, screen share, and a few things you won't find anywhere else. It's free to use, with optional Quantum and Core tiers for people who want more.
We're a small team shipping fast, and every public server is human reviewed before it's listed. Rift is in open beta now, with its full 1.0 release set for January 19, 2029 - create an account and tell us what you think.
