Chat formats: different ways a conversation can run
Not every conversation wants the same shape. Sometimes you want straight texting. Sometimes you want a story frame. Sometimes you want a setup that already knows the scene.
That’s what chat formats are for. They change how the conversation is framed, without forcing you to rebuild the character from scratch.
Same character, different frame
A character is who you’re talking to. A format is how the chat is supposed to run. Think of it like picking the room before you start talking. The person can stay the same. The expectations change.
Browse formats on explore the same way you’d browse reply styles or other catalog pieces. Open one, read what it’s for, and use it when that framing matches the chat you want.
When a format helps
Use a format when the default chat feels too blank for the vibe. You want a clearer scene. You want a different kind of back-and-forth. You want the conversation to open with a stronger premise than “hi.”
Skip formats when you just want casual texting. Not every chat needs a structure. If freeform is working, leave it alone.
How to pick without overthinking
Read the description like you’d read a playlist title. If it sounds like the chat you want tonight, try it. If it fights the character’s personality, pick another one. The format should support the character, not flatten them into a template.
You can also create or save formats when you find a framing you reuse a lot. The point is speed: get into the right kind of conversation faster.
Keep it legible
Good formats are easy to explain in one sentence. If you can’t tell what a format is doing for the user, it’s probably too clever. We’re building this surface so people can browse, understand, and start chatting without a manual.
Check chat formats on explore, try one with a character you already like, and see whether the conversation opens the way you hoped.
Formats play nice with other pieces
A format doesn’t replace a character, a reply style, or a world. It sits beside them. Character is who. Reply style is how they text. World or story is where and why. Format is the conversational shape on top.
When those pieces agree, chats feel intentional. When they fight, everything feels like a costume party. Mix on purpose.
For creators
If you publish a format, write the description like a human. One clear promise. Who it’s for. What kind of chat it creates. People should know in seconds whether to tap it.