diff --git a/osu-framework b/osu-framework
index 2610a31337..90bf49a2df 160000
--- a/osu-framework
+++ b/osu-framework
@@ -1 +1 @@
-Subproject commit 2610a3133721b0bc4af852342aa2a179d0e66497
+Subproject commit 90bf49a2df3dbad5994d922df63e4891c622dbc3
diff --git a/osu-resources b/osu-resources
index 266965f0d7..92ec3d10b1 160000
--- a/osu-resources
+++ b/osu-resources
@@ -1 +1 @@
-Subproject commit 266965f0d795b94a126e2da302bd2c10eadd642a
+Subproject commit 92ec3d10b12c5e9bfc1d3b05d3db174a506efd6d
diff --git a/osu.Game.Rulesets.Osu/Judgements/OsuSliderTailJudgement.cs b/osu.Game.Rulesets.Osu/Judgements/OsuSliderTailJudgement.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..a6e67ea979
--- /dev/null
+++ b/osu.Game.Rulesets.Osu/Judgements/OsuSliderTailJudgement.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+// Copyright (c) 2007-2018 ppy Pty Ltd <contact@ppy.sh>.
+// Licensed under the MIT Licence - https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ppy/osu/master/LICENCE
+
+using osu.Game.Rulesets.Scoring;
+
+namespace osu.Game.Rulesets.Osu.Judgements
+{
+    public class OsuSliderTailJudgement : OsuJudgement
+    {
+        public override bool AffectsCombo => false;
+        protected override int NumericResultFor(HitResult result) => 0;
+    }
+}
diff --git a/osu.Game.Rulesets.Osu/Objects/Drawables/DrawableSlider.cs b/osu.Game.Rulesets.Osu/Objects/Drawables/DrawableSlider.cs
index af947817c0..5f464402d0 100644
--- a/osu.Game.Rulesets.Osu/Objects/Drawables/DrawableSlider.cs
+++ b/osu.Game.Rulesets.Osu/Objects/Drawables/DrawableSlider.cs
@@ -18,14 +18,9 @@ namespace osu.Game.Rulesets.Osu.Objects.Drawables
     public class DrawableSlider : DrawableOsuHitObject, IDrawableHitObjectWithProxiedApproach
     {
         private readonly Slider slider;
-
-        public readonly DrawableHitCircle InitialCircle;
-
         private readonly List<Drawable> components = new List<Drawable>();
 
-        private readonly Container<DrawableSliderTick> ticks;
-        private readonly Container<DrawableRepeatPoint> repeatPoints;
-
+        public readonly DrawableHitCircle HeadCircle;
         public readonly SliderBody Body;
         public readonly SliderBall Ball;
 
@@ -34,6 +29,10 @@ namespace osu.Game.Rulesets.Osu.Objects.Drawables
         {
             slider = s;
 
+            DrawableSliderTail tail;
+            Container<DrawableSliderTick> ticks;
+            Container<DrawableRepeatPoint> repeatPoints;
+
             Children = new Drawable[]
             {
                 Body = new SliderBody(s)
@@ -51,27 +50,17 @@ namespace osu.Game.Rulesets.Osu.Objects.Drawables
                     AlwaysPresent = true,
                     Alpha = 0
                 },
-                InitialCircle = new DrawableHitCircle(new HitCircle
-                {
-                    StartTime = s.StartTime,
-                    Position = s.StackedPosition,
-                    IndexInCurrentCombo = s.IndexInCurrentCombo,
-                    Scale = s.Scale,
-                    ComboColour = s.ComboColour,
-                    Samples = s.Samples,
-                    SampleControlPoint = s.SampleControlPoint,
-                    TimePreempt = s.TimePreempt,
-                    TimeFadein = s.TimeFadein,
-                    HitWindow300 = s.HitWindow300,
-                    HitWindow100 = s.HitWindow100,
-                    HitWindow50 = s.HitWindow50
-                })
+                HeadCircle = new DrawableHitCircle(s.HeadCircle),
+                tail = new DrawableSliderTail(s.TailCircle)
             };
 
             components.Add(Body);
             components.Add(Ball);
 
-            AddNested(InitialCircle);
+            AddNested(HeadCircle);
+
+            AddNested(tail);
+            components.Add(tail);
 
             foreach (var tick in s.NestedHitObjects.OfType<SliderTick>())
             {
@@ -87,6 +76,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Rulesets.Osu.Objects.Drawables
                 };
 
                 ticks.Add(drawableTick);
+                components.Add(drawableTick);
                 AddNested(drawableTick);
             }
 
@@ -121,27 +111,25 @@ namespace osu.Game.Rulesets.Osu.Objects.Drawables
                 currentSpan = span;
 
             //todo: we probably want to reconsider this before adding scoring, but it looks and feels nice.
-            if (!InitialCircle.Judgements.Any(j => j.IsHit))
-                InitialCircle.Position = slider.Curve.PositionAt(progress);
+            if (!HeadCircle.IsHit)
+                HeadCircle.Position = slider.Curve.PositionAt(progress);
 
             foreach (var c in components.OfType<ISliderProgress>()) c.UpdateProgress(progress, span);
             foreach (var c in components.OfType<ITrackSnaking>()) c.UpdateSnakingPosition(slider.Curve.PositionAt(Body.SnakedStart ?? 0), slider.Curve.PositionAt(Body.SnakedEnd ?? 0));
-            foreach (var t in ticks.Children) t.Tracking = Ball.Tracking;
+            foreach (var t in components.OfType<IRequireTracking>()) t.Tracking = Ball.Tracking;
         }
 
         protected override void CheckForJudgements(bool userTriggered, double timeOffset)
         {
             if (!userTriggered && Time.Current >= slider.EndTime)
             {
-                var judgementsCount = ticks.Children.Count + repeatPoints.Children.Count + 1;
-                var judgementsHit = ticks.Children.Count(t => t.Judgements.Any(j => j.IsHit)) + repeatPoints.Children.Count(t => t.Judgements.Any(j => j.IsHit));
-                if (InitialCircle.Judgements.Any(j => j.IsHit))
-                    judgementsHit++;
+                var judgementsCount = NestedHitObjects.Count;
+                var judgementsHit = NestedHitObjects.Count(h => h.IsHit);
 
                 var hitFraction = (double)judgementsHit / judgementsCount;
-                if (hitFraction == 1 && InitialCircle.Judgements.Any(j => j.Result == HitResult.Great))
+                if (hitFraction == 1 && HeadCircle.Judgements.Any(j => j.Result == HitResult.Great))
                     AddJudgement(new OsuJudgement { Result = HitResult.Great });
-                else if (hitFraction >= 0.5 && InitialCircle.Judgements.Any(j => j.Result >= HitResult.Good))
+                else if (hitFraction >= 0.5 && HeadCircle.Judgements.Any(j => j.Result >= HitResult.Good))
                     AddJudgement(new OsuJudgement { Result = HitResult.Good });
                 else if (hitFraction > 0)
                     AddJudgement(new OsuJudgement { Result = HitResult.Meh });
@@ -173,7 +161,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Rulesets.Osu.Objects.Drawables
             }
         }
 
-        public Drawable ProxiedLayer => InitialCircle.ApproachCircle;
+        public Drawable ProxiedLayer => HeadCircle.ApproachCircle;
 
         public override Vector2 SelectionPoint => ToScreenSpace(Body.Position);
         public override Quad SelectionQuad => Body.PathDrawQuad;
diff --git a/osu.Game.Rulesets.Osu/Objects/Drawables/DrawableSliderTail.cs b/osu.Game.Rulesets.Osu/Objects/Drawables/DrawableSliderTail.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..8835fc2b29
--- /dev/null
+++ b/osu.Game.Rulesets.Osu/Objects/Drawables/DrawableSliderTail.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+// Copyright (c) 2007-2018 ppy Pty Ltd <contact@ppy.sh>.
+// Licensed under the MIT Licence - https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ppy/osu/master/LICENCE
+
+using osu.Framework.Graphics;
+using osu.Game.Rulesets.Osu.Judgements;
+using osu.Game.Rulesets.Scoring;
+
+namespace osu.Game.Rulesets.Osu.Objects.Drawables
+{
+    public class DrawableSliderTail : DrawableOsuHitObject, IRequireTracking
+    {
+        /// <summary>
+        /// The judgement text is provided by the <see cref="DrawableSlider"/>.
+        /// </summary>
+        public override bool DisplayJudgement => false;
+
+        public bool Tracking { get; set; }
+
+        public DrawableSliderTail(HitCircle hitCircle)
+            : base(hitCircle)
+        {
+            AlwaysPresent = true;
+            RelativeSizeAxes = Axes.Both;
+        }
+
+        protected override void CheckForJudgements(bool userTriggered, double timeOffset)
+        {
+            if (!userTriggered && timeOffset >= 0)
+                AddJudgement(new OsuSliderTailJudgement { Result = Tracking ? HitResult.Great : HitResult.Miss });
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/osu.Game.Rulesets.Osu/Objects/Drawables/DrawableSliderTick.cs b/osu.Game.Rulesets.Osu/Objects/Drawables/DrawableSliderTick.cs
index 09985752a4..ae76f1e0e1 100644
--- a/osu.Game.Rulesets.Osu/Objects/Drawables/DrawableSliderTick.cs
+++ b/osu.Game.Rulesets.Osu/Objects/Drawables/DrawableSliderTick.cs
@@ -12,14 +12,14 @@ using osu.Game.Rulesets.Scoring;
 
 namespace osu.Game.Rulesets.Osu.Objects.Drawables
 {
-    public class DrawableSliderTick : DrawableOsuHitObject
+    public class DrawableSliderTick : DrawableOsuHitObject, IRequireTracking
     {
         private readonly SliderTick sliderTick;
 
         public double FadeInTime;
         public double FadeOutTime;
 
-        public bool Tracking;
+        public bool Tracking { get; set; }
 
         public override bool DisplayJudgement => false;
 
diff --git a/osu.Game.Rulesets.Osu/Objects/Drawables/IRequireTracking.cs b/osu.Game.Rulesets.Osu/Objects/Drawables/IRequireTracking.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..98fc686dd3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/osu.Game.Rulesets.Osu/Objects/Drawables/IRequireTracking.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+// Copyright (c) 2007-2018 ppy Pty Ltd <contact@ppy.sh>.
+// Licensed under the MIT Licence - https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ppy/osu/master/LICENCE
+
+namespace osu.Game.Rulesets.Osu.Objects.Drawables
+{
+    public interface IRequireTracking
+    {
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Whether the <see cref="DrawableSlider"/> is currently being tracked by the user.
+        /// </summary>
+        bool Tracking { get; set; }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/osu.Game.Rulesets.Osu/Objects/Slider.cs b/osu.Game.Rulesets.Osu/Objects/Slider.cs
index 79bb14a475..d4444c5c5d 100644
--- a/osu.Game.Rulesets.Osu/Objects/Slider.cs
+++ b/osu.Game.Rulesets.Osu/Objects/Slider.cs
@@ -80,6 +80,9 @@ namespace osu.Game.Rulesets.Osu.Objects
         public double Velocity;
         public double TickDistance;
 
+        public HitCircle HeadCircle;
+        public HitCircle TailCircle;
+
         protected override void ApplyDefaultsToSelf(ControlPointInfo controlPointInfo, BeatmapDifficulty difficulty)
         {
             base.ApplyDefaultsToSelf(controlPointInfo, difficulty);
@@ -97,10 +100,37 @@ namespace osu.Game.Rulesets.Osu.Objects
         {
             base.CreateNestedHitObjects();
 
+            createSliderEnds();
             createTicks();
             createRepeatPoints();
         }
 
+        private void createSliderEnds()
+        {
+            HeadCircle = new HitCircle
+            {
+                StartTime = StartTime,
+                Position = StackedPosition,
+                IndexInCurrentCombo = IndexInCurrentCombo,
+                ComboColour = ComboColour,
+                Samples = Samples,
+                SampleControlPoint = SampleControlPoint
+            };
+
+            TailCircle = new HitCircle
+            {
+                StartTime = EndTime,
+                Position = StackedEndPosition,
+                IndexInCurrentCombo = IndexInCurrentCombo,
+                ComboColour = ComboColour,
+                Samples = Samples,
+                SampleControlPoint = SampleControlPoint
+            };
+
+            AddNested(HeadCircle);
+            AddNested(TailCircle);
+        }
+
         private void createTicks()
         {
             if (TickDistance == 0) return;
diff --git a/osu.Game.Rulesets.Osu/Tests/TestCaseSlider.cs b/osu.Game.Rulesets.Osu/Tests/TestCaseSlider.cs
index 5060137ec6..2d26b74d01 100644
--- a/osu.Game.Rulesets.Osu/Tests/TestCaseSlider.cs
+++ b/osu.Game.Rulesets.Osu/Tests/TestCaseSlider.cs
@@ -16,6 +16,9 @@ using OpenTK;
 using OpenTK.Graphics;
 using osu.Game.Rulesets.Mods;
 using System.Linq;
+using osu.Game.Graphics.Sprites;
+using osu.Game.Rulesets.Judgements;
+using osu.Game.Rulesets.Objects.Drawables;
 using osu.Game.Rulesets.Osu.Objects.Drawables.Pieces;
 
 namespace osu.Game.Rulesets.Osu.Tests
@@ -142,7 +145,34 @@ namespace osu.Game.Rulesets.Osu.Tests
             foreach (var mod in Mods.OfType<IApplicableToDrawableHitObjects>())
                 mod.ApplyToDrawableHitObjects(new[] { drawable });
 
+            drawable.OnJudgement += onJudgement;
+
             Add(drawable);
         }
+
+        private float judgementOffsetDirection = 1;
+        private void onJudgement(DrawableHitObject judgedObject, Judgement judgement)
+        {
+            var osuObject = judgedObject as DrawableOsuHitObject;
+            if (osuObject == null)
+                return;
+
+            OsuSpriteText text;
+            Add(text = new OsuSpriteText
+            {
+                Anchor = Anchor.Centre,
+                Origin = Anchor.Centre,
+                Text = judgement.IsHit ? "Hit!" : "Miss!",
+                Colour = judgement.IsHit ? Color4.Green : Color4.Red,
+                TextSize = 30,
+                Position = osuObject.HitObject.StackedEndPosition + judgementOffsetDirection * new Vector2(0, 45)
+            });
+
+            text.Delay(150)
+                .Then().FadeOut(200)
+                .Then().Expire();
+
+            judgementOffsetDirection *= -1;
+        }
     }
 }
diff --git a/osu.Game.Rulesets.Osu/osu.Game.Rulesets.Osu.csproj b/osu.Game.Rulesets.Osu/osu.Game.Rulesets.Osu.csproj
index 74a3883f0a..97a003513f 100644
--- a/osu.Game.Rulesets.Osu/osu.Game.Rulesets.Osu.csproj
+++ b/osu.Game.Rulesets.Osu/osu.Game.Rulesets.Osu.csproj
@@ -55,6 +55,7 @@
     <Compile Include="Edit\OsuEditPlayfield.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Edit\OsuEditRulesetContainer.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Edit\OsuHitObjectComposer.cs" />
+    <Compile Include="Judgements\OsuSliderTailJudgement.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Mods\OsuModAutopilot.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Mods\OsuModAutoplay.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Mods\OsuModDaycore.cs" />
@@ -75,6 +76,8 @@
     <Compile Include="Objects\Drawables\Connections\FollowPointRenderer.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Judgements\OsuJudgement.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Objects\Drawables\DrawableRepeatPoint.cs" />
+    <Compile Include="Objects\Drawables\DrawableSliderTail.cs" />
+    <Compile Include="Objects\Drawables\IRequireTracking.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Objects\Drawables\ITrackSnaking.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Objects\Drawables\Pieces\ApproachCircle.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Objects\Drawables\Pieces\SpinnerBackground.cs" />
diff --git a/osu.Game.Rulesets.Taiko/Replays/TaikoAutoGenerator.cs b/osu.Game.Rulesets.Taiko/Replays/TaikoAutoGenerator.cs
index c1fe2c13a8..002159439d 100644
--- a/osu.Game.Rulesets.Taiko/Replays/TaikoAutoGenerator.cs
+++ b/osu.Game.Rulesets.Taiko/Replays/TaikoAutoGenerator.cs
@@ -35,8 +35,8 @@ namespace osu.Game.Rulesets.Taiko.Replays
         {
             bool hitButton = true;
 
-            Frames.Add(new ReplayFrame(-100000, null, null, ReplayButtonState.None));
-            Frames.Add(new ReplayFrame(Beatmap.HitObjects[0].StartTime - 1000, null, null, ReplayButtonState.None));
+            Frames.Add(new TaikoReplayFrame(-100000, ReplayButtonState.None));
+            Frames.Add(new TaikoReplayFrame(Beatmap.HitObjects[0].StartTime - 1000, ReplayButtonState.None));
 
             for (int i = 0; i < Beatmap.HitObjects.Count; i++)
             {
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Rulesets.Taiko.Replays
                                 break;
                         }
 
-                        Frames.Add(new ReplayFrame(j, null, null, button));
+                        Frames.Add(new TaikoReplayFrame(j, button));
                         d = (d + 1) % 4;
                         if (++count == req)
                             break;
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Rulesets.Taiko.Replays
                 {
                     foreach (var tick in drumRoll.NestedHitObjects.OfType<DrumRollTick>())
                     {
-                        Frames.Add(new ReplayFrame(tick.StartTime, null, null, hitButton ? ReplayButtonState.Right1 : ReplayButtonState.Right2));
+                        Frames.Add(new TaikoReplayFrame(tick.StartTime, hitButton ? ReplayButtonState.Right1 : ReplayButtonState.Right2));
                         hitButton = !hitButton;
                     }
                 }
@@ -107,18 +107,18 @@ namespace osu.Game.Rulesets.Taiko.Replays
                             button = hitButton ? ReplayButtonState.Left1 : ReplayButtonState.Left2;
                     }
 
-                    Frames.Add(new ReplayFrame(h.StartTime, null, null, button));
+                    Frames.Add(new TaikoReplayFrame(h.StartTime, button));
                 }
                 else
                     throw new InvalidOperationException("Unknown hit object type.");
 
-                Frames.Add(new ReplayFrame(endTime + KEY_UP_DELAY, null, null, ReplayButtonState.None));
+                Frames.Add(new TaikoReplayFrame(endTime + KEY_UP_DELAY, ReplayButtonState.None));
 
                 if (i < Beatmap.HitObjects.Count - 1)
                 {
                     double waitTime = Beatmap.HitObjects[i + 1].StartTime - 1000;
                     if (waitTime > endTime)
-                        Frames.Add(new ReplayFrame(waitTime, null, null, ReplayButtonState.None));
+                        Frames.Add(new TaikoReplayFrame(waitTime, ReplayButtonState.None));
                 }
 
                 hitButton = !hitButton;
diff --git a/osu.Game.Rulesets.Taiko/Replays/TaikoReplayFrame.cs b/osu.Game.Rulesets.Taiko/Replays/TaikoReplayFrame.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..0c60cdc109
--- /dev/null
+++ b/osu.Game.Rulesets.Taiko/Replays/TaikoReplayFrame.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+// Copyright (c) 2007-2018 ppy Pty Ltd <contact@ppy.sh>.
+// Licensed under the MIT Licence - https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ppy/osu/master/LICENCE
+
+using osu.Game.Rulesets.Replays;
+
+namespace osu.Game.Rulesets.Taiko.Replays
+{
+    public class TaikoReplayFrame : ReplayFrame
+    {
+        public override bool IsImportant => MouseLeft || MouseRight;
+
+        public TaikoReplayFrame(double time, ReplayButtonState buttons)
+            : base(time, null, null, buttons)
+        {
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/osu.Game.Rulesets.Taiko/osu.Game.Rulesets.Taiko.csproj b/osu.Game.Rulesets.Taiko/osu.Game.Rulesets.Taiko.csproj
index 90256c7d63..5795048322 100644
--- a/osu.Game.Rulesets.Taiko/osu.Game.Rulesets.Taiko.csproj
+++ b/osu.Game.Rulesets.Taiko/osu.Game.Rulesets.Taiko.csproj
@@ -95,6 +95,7 @@
     <Compile Include="Replays\TaikoAutoGenerator.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Objects\TaikoHitObject.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Objects\TaikoHitObjectDifficulty.cs" />
+    <Compile Include="Replays\TaikoReplayFrame.cs" />
     <Compile Include="TaikoDifficultyCalculator.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Properties\AssemblyInfo.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Scoring\TaikoScoreProcessor.cs" />
diff --git a/osu.Game.Tests/Chat/MessageFormatterTests.cs b/osu.Game.Tests/Chat/MessageFormatterTests.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..f102e4c59f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/osu.Game.Tests/Chat/MessageFormatterTests.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,247 @@
+// Copyright (c) 2007-2018 ppy Pty Ltd <contact@ppy.sh>.
+// Licensed under the MIT Licence - https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ppy/osu/master/LICENCE
+
+using NUnit.Framework;
+using osu.Game.Online.Chat;
+
+namespace osu.Game.Tests.Chat
+{
+    [TestFixture]
+    public class MessageFormatterTests
+    {
+        [Test]
+        public void TestBareLink()
+        {
+            Message result = MessageFormatter.FormatMessage(new Message { Content = "This is a http://www.basic-link.com/?test=test." });
+
+            Assert.AreEqual(result.Content, result.DisplayContent);
+            Assert.AreEqual(1, result.Links.Count);
+            Assert.AreEqual("http://www.basic-link.com/?test=test", result.Links[0].Url);
+            Assert.AreEqual(10, result.Links[0].Index);
+            Assert.AreEqual(36, result.Links[0].Length);
+        }
+
+        [Test]
+        public void TestMultipleComplexLinks()
+        {
+            Message result = MessageFormatter.FormatMessage(new Message { Content = "This is a http://test.io/link#fragment. (see https://twitter.com). Also, This string should not be altered. http://example.com/" });
+
+            Assert.AreEqual(result.Content, result.DisplayContent);
+            Assert.AreEqual(3, result.Links.Count);
+
+            Assert.AreEqual("http://test.io/link#fragment", result.Links[0].Url);
+            Assert.AreEqual(10, result.Links[0].Index);
+            Assert.AreEqual(28, result.Links[0].Length);
+
+            Assert.AreEqual("https://twitter.com", result.Links[1].Url);
+            Assert.AreEqual(45, result.Links[1].Index);
+            Assert.AreEqual(19, result.Links[1].Length);
+
+            Assert.AreEqual("http://example.com/", result.Links[2].Url);
+            Assert.AreEqual(108, result.Links[2].Index);
+            Assert.AreEqual(19, result.Links[2].Length);
+        }
+
+        [Test]
+        public void TestAjaxLinks()
+        {
+            Message result = MessageFormatter.FormatMessage(new Message { Content = "https://twitter.com/#!/hashbanglinks" });
+
+            Assert.AreEqual(result.Content, result.DisplayContent);
+            Assert.AreEqual(result.Content, result.Links[0].Url);
+            Assert.AreEqual(0, result.Links[0].Index);
+            Assert.AreEqual(36, result.Links[0].Length);
+        }
+
+        [Test]
+        public void TestUnixHomeLinks()
+        {
+            Message result = MessageFormatter.FormatMessage(new Message { Content = "http://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/putty/" });
+
+            Assert.AreEqual(result.Content, result.DisplayContent);
+            Assert.AreEqual(result.Content, result.Links[0].Url);
+            Assert.AreEqual(0, result.Links[0].Index);
+            Assert.AreEqual(50, result.Links[0].Length);
+        }
+
+        [Test]
+        public void TestCaseInsensitiveLinks()
+        {
+            Message result = MessageFormatter.FormatMessage(new Message { Content = "look: http://puu.sh/7Ggh8xcC6/asf0asd9876.NEF" });
+
+            Assert.AreEqual(result.Content, result.DisplayContent);
+            Assert.AreEqual(6, result.Links[0].Index);
+            Assert.AreEqual(39, result.Links[0].Length);
+        }
+
+        [Test]
+        public void TestWikiLink()
+        {
+            Message result = MessageFormatter.FormatMessage(new Message { Content = "This is a [[Wiki Link]]." });
+
+            Assert.AreEqual("This is a Wiki Link.", result.DisplayContent);
+            Assert.AreEqual(1, result.Links.Count);
+            Assert.AreEqual("https://osu.ppy.sh/wiki/Wiki Link", result.Links[0].Url);
+            Assert.AreEqual(10, result.Links[0].Index);
+            Assert.AreEqual(9, result.Links[0].Length);
+        }
+
+        [Test]
+        public void TestMultiWikiLink()
+        {
+            Message result = MessageFormatter.FormatMessage(new Message { Content = "This is a [[Wiki Link]] [[Wiki:Link]][[Wiki.Link]]." });
+
+            Assert.AreEqual("This is a Wiki Link Wiki:LinkWiki.Link.", result.DisplayContent);
+            Assert.AreEqual(3, result.Links.Count);
+
+            Assert.AreEqual("https://osu.ppy.sh/wiki/Wiki Link", result.Links[0].Url);
+            Assert.AreEqual(10, result.Links[0].Index);
+            Assert.AreEqual(9, result.Links[0].Length);
+
+            Assert.AreEqual("https://osu.ppy.sh/wiki/Wiki:Link", result.Links[1].Url);
+            Assert.AreEqual(20, result.Links[1].Index);
+            Assert.AreEqual(9, result.Links[1].Length);
+
+            Assert.AreEqual("https://osu.ppy.sh/wiki/Wiki.Link", result.Links[2].Url);
+            Assert.AreEqual(29, result.Links[2].Index);
+            Assert.AreEqual(9, result.Links[2].Length);
+        }
+
+        [Test]
+        public void TestOldFormatLink()
+        {
+            Message result = MessageFormatter.FormatMessage(new Message { Content = "This is a (simple test)[https://osu.ppy.sh] of links." });
+
+            Assert.AreEqual("This is a simple test of links.", result.DisplayContent);
+            Assert.AreEqual(1, result.Links.Count);
+            Assert.AreEqual("https://osu.ppy.sh", result.Links[0].Url);
+            Assert.AreEqual(10, result.Links[0].Index);
+            Assert.AreEqual(11, result.Links[0].Length);
+        }
+
+        [Test]
+        public void TestNewFormatLink()
+        {
+            Message result = MessageFormatter.FormatMessage(new Message { Content = "This is a [https://osu.ppy.sh simple test]." });
+
+            Assert.AreEqual("This is a simple test.", result.DisplayContent);
+            Assert.AreEqual(1, result.Links.Count);
+            Assert.AreEqual("https://osu.ppy.sh", result.Links[0].Url);
+            Assert.AreEqual(10, result.Links[0].Index);
+            Assert.AreEqual(11, result.Links[0].Length);
+        }
+
+        [Test]
+        public void TestMarkdownFormatLink()
+        {
+            Message result = MessageFormatter.FormatMessage(new Message { Content = "This is a [simple test](https://osu.ppy.sh)." });
+
+            Assert.AreEqual("This is a simple test.", result.DisplayContent);
+            Assert.AreEqual(1, result.Links.Count);
+            Assert.AreEqual("https://osu.ppy.sh", result.Links[0].Url);
+            Assert.AreEqual(10, result.Links[0].Index);
+            Assert.AreEqual(11, result.Links[0].Length);
+        }
+
+        [Test]
+        public void TestChannelLink()
+        {
+            Message result = MessageFormatter.FormatMessage(new Message { Content = "This is an #english and #japanese." });
+
+            Assert.AreEqual(result.Content, result.DisplayContent);
+            Assert.AreEqual(2, result.Links.Count);
+            Assert.AreEqual("osu://chan/#english", result.Links[0].Url);
+            Assert.AreEqual("osu://chan/#japanese", result.Links[1].Url);
+        }
+
+        [Test]
+        public void TestOsuProtocol()
+        {
+            Message result = MessageFormatter.FormatMessage(new Message { Content = "This is a custom protocol osu://chan/#english." });
+
+            Assert.AreEqual(result.Content, result.DisplayContent);
+            Assert.AreEqual(1, result.Links.Count);
+            Assert.AreEqual("osu://chan/#english", result.Links[0].Url);
+            Assert.AreEqual(26, result.Links[0].Index);
+            Assert.AreEqual(19, result.Links[0].Length);
+
+            result = MessageFormatter.FormatMessage(new Message { Content = "This is a [custom protocol](osu://chan/#english)." });
+
+            Assert.AreEqual("This is a custom protocol.", result.DisplayContent);
+            Assert.AreEqual(1, result.Links.Count);
+            Assert.AreEqual("osu://chan/#english", result.Links[0].Url);
+            Assert.AreEqual("#english", result.Links[0].Argument);
+            Assert.AreEqual(10, result.Links[0].Index);
+            Assert.AreEqual(15, result.Links[0].Length);
+        }
+
+        [Test]
+        public void TestOsuMpProtocol()
+        {
+            Message result = MessageFormatter.FormatMessage(new Message { Content = "Join my multiplayer game osump://12346." });
+
+            Assert.AreEqual(result.Content, result.DisplayContent);
+            Assert.AreEqual(1, result.Links.Count);
+            Assert.AreEqual("osump://12346", result.Links[0].Url);
+            Assert.AreEqual(25, result.Links[0].Index);
+            Assert.AreEqual(13, result.Links[0].Length);
+        }
+
+        [Test]
+        public void TestRecursiveBreaking()
+        {
+            Message result = MessageFormatter.FormatMessage(new Message { Content = "This is a [https://osu.ppy.sh [[simple test]]]." });
+
+            Assert.AreEqual("This is a [[simple test]].", result.DisplayContent);
+            Assert.AreEqual(1, result.Links.Count);
+            Assert.AreEqual("https://osu.ppy.sh", result.Links[0].Url);
+            Assert.AreEqual(10, result.Links[0].Index);
+            Assert.AreEqual(15, result.Links[0].Length);
+        }
+
+        [Test]
+        public void TestLinkComplex()
+        {
+            Message result = MessageFormatter.FormatMessage(new Message { Content = "This is a [http://www.simple-test.com simple test] with some [traps] and [[wiki links]]. Don't forget to visit https://osu.ppy.sh (now!)[http://google.com]\uD83D\uDE12" });
+
+            Assert.AreEqual("This is a simple test with some [traps] and wiki links. Don't forget to visit https://osu.ppy.sh now!\0\0\0", result.DisplayContent);
+            Assert.AreEqual(5, result.Links.Count);
+
+            Link f = result.Links.Find(l => l.Url == "https://osu.ppy.sh/wiki/wiki links");
+            Assert.AreEqual(44, f.Index);
+            Assert.AreEqual(10, f.Length);
+
+            f = result.Links.Find(l => l.Url == "http://www.simple-test.com");
+            Assert.AreEqual(10, f.Index);
+            Assert.AreEqual(11, f.Length);
+
+            f = result.Links.Find(l => l.Url == "http://google.com");
+            Assert.AreEqual(97, f.Index);
+            Assert.AreEqual(4, f.Length);
+
+            f = result.Links.Find(l => l.Url == "https://osu.ppy.sh");
+            Assert.AreEqual(78, f.Index);
+            Assert.AreEqual(18, f.Length);
+
+            f = result.Links.Find(l => l.Url == "\uD83D\uDE12");
+            Assert.AreEqual(101, f.Index);
+            Assert.AreEqual(3, f.Length);
+        }
+
+        [Test]
+        public void TestEmoji()
+        {
+            Message result = MessageFormatter.FormatMessage(new Message { Content = "Hello world\uD83D\uDE12<--This is an emoji,There are more:\uD83D\uDE10\uD83D\uDE00,\uD83D\uDE20" });
+            Assert.AreEqual("Hello world\0\0\0<--This is an emoji,There are more:\0\0\0\0\0\0,\0\0\0", result.DisplayContent);
+            Assert.AreEqual(result.Links.Count, 4);
+            Assert.AreEqual(result.Links[0].Index, 11);
+            Assert.AreEqual(result.Links[1].Index, 49);
+            Assert.AreEqual(result.Links[2].Index, 52);
+            Assert.AreEqual(result.Links[3].Index, 56);
+            Assert.AreEqual(result.Links[0].Url, "\uD83D\uDE12");
+            Assert.AreEqual(result.Links[1].Url, "\uD83D\uDE10");
+            Assert.AreEqual(result.Links[2].Url, "\uD83D\uDE00");
+            Assert.AreEqual(result.Links[3].Url, "\uD83D\uDE20");
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/osu.Game.Tests/Visual/TestCaseChatLink.cs b/osu.Game.Tests/Visual/TestCaseChatLink.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..3a7be686e1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/osu.Game.Tests/Visual/TestCaseChatLink.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,217 @@
+// Copyright (c) 2007-2018 ppy Pty Ltd <contact@ppy.sh>.
+// Licensed under the MIT Licence - https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ppy/osu/master/LICENCE
+
+using OpenTK.Graphics;
+using osu.Framework.Allocation;
+using osu.Framework.Graphics;
+using osu.Framework.Graphics.Containers;
+using osu.Game.Graphics;
+using osu.Game.Online.Chat;
+using osu.Game.Overlays.Chat;
+using osu.Game.Users;
+using System;
+using System.Collections.Generic;
+using System.Linq;
+using osu.Game.Graphics.Containers;
+using osu.Game.Graphics.Sprites;
+using osu.Game.Overlays;
+
+namespace osu.Game.Tests.Visual
+{
+    public class TestCaseChatLink : OsuTestCase
+    {
+        private readonly TestChatLineContainer textContainer;
+        private Color4 linkColour;
+
+        public override IReadOnlyList<Type> RequiredTypes => new[]
+        {
+            typeof(ChatLine),
+            typeof(Message),
+            typeof(LinkFlowContainer),
+            typeof(DummyEchoMessage),
+            typeof(LocalEchoMessage),
+            typeof(MessageFormatter)
+        };
+
+        private DependencyContainer dependencies;
+        protected override IReadOnlyDependencyContainer CreateLocalDependencies(IReadOnlyDependencyContainer parent) => dependencies = new DependencyContainer(parent);
+
+        public TestCaseChatLink()
+        {
+            Add(textContainer = new TestChatLineContainer
+            {
+                Padding = new MarginPadding { Left = 20, Right = 20 },
+                RelativeSizeAxes = Axes.X,
+                AutoSizeAxes = Axes.Y,
+                Direction = FillDirection.Vertical,
+            });
+        }
+
+        [BackgroundDependencyLoader]
+        private void load(OsuColour colours)
+        {
+            linkColour = colours.Blue;
+            dependencies.Cache(new ChatOverlay
+            {
+                AvailableChannels =
+                {
+                    new Channel { Name = "#english" },
+                    new Channel { Name = "#japanese" }
+                }
+            });
+
+            testLinksGeneral();
+            testEcho();
+        }
+
+        private void clear() => AddStep("clear messages", textContainer.Clear);
+
+        private void addMessageWithChecks(string text, int linkAmount = 0, bool isAction = false, bool isImportant = false, params LinkAction[] expectedActions)
+        {
+            int index = textContainer.Count + 1;
+            var newLine = new ChatLine(new DummyMessage(text, isAction, isImportant, index));
+            textContainer.Add(newLine);
+
+            AddAssert($"msg #{index} has {linkAmount} link(s)", () => newLine.Message.Links.Count == linkAmount);
+            AddAssert($"msg #{index} has the right action", hasExpectedActions);
+            AddAssert($"msg #{index} is " + (isAction ? "italic" : "not italic"), () => newLine.ContentFlow.Any() && isAction == isItalic());
+            AddAssert($"msg #{index} shows {linkAmount} link(s)", isShowingLinks);
+
+            bool hasExpectedActions()
+            {
+                var expectedActionsList = expectedActions.ToList();
+
+                if (expectedActionsList.Count != newLine.Message.Links.Count)
+                    return false;
+
+                for (int i = 0; i < newLine.Message.Links.Count; i++)
+                {
+                    var action = newLine.Message.Links[i].Action;
+                    if (action != expectedActions[i]) return false;
+                }
+
+                return true;
+            }
+
+            bool isItalic() => newLine.ContentFlow.Where(d => d is OsuSpriteText).Cast<OsuSpriteText>().All(sprite => sprite.Font == "Exo2.0-MediumItalic");
+
+            bool isShowingLinks()
+            {
+                bool hasBackground = !string.IsNullOrEmpty(newLine.Message.Sender.Colour);
+
+                Color4 textColour = isAction && hasBackground ? OsuColour.FromHex(newLine.Message.Sender.Colour) : Color4.White;
+
+                var linkCompilers = newLine.ContentFlow.Where(d => d is DrawableLinkCompiler).ToList();
+                var linkSprites = linkCompilers.SelectMany(comp => ((DrawableLinkCompiler)comp).Parts);
+
+                return linkSprites.All(d => d.Colour == linkColour)
+                       && newLine.ContentFlow.Except(linkSprites.Concat(linkCompilers)).All(d => d.Colour == textColour);
+            }
+        }
+
+        private void testLinksGeneral()
+        {
+            addMessageWithChecks("test!");
+            addMessageWithChecks("osu.ppy.sh!");
+            addMessageWithChecks("https://osu.ppy.sh!", 1, expectedActions: LinkAction.External);
+            addMessageWithChecks("00:12:345 (1,2) - Test?", 1, expectedActions: LinkAction.OpenEditorTimestamp);
+            addMessageWithChecks("Wiki link for tasty [[Performance Points]]", 1, expectedActions: LinkAction.External);
+            addMessageWithChecks("(osu forums)[https://osu.ppy.sh/forum] (old link format)", 1, expectedActions: LinkAction.External);
+            addMessageWithChecks("[https://osu.ppy.sh/home New site] (new link format)", 1, expectedActions: LinkAction.External);
+            addMessageWithChecks("[osu forums](https://osu.ppy.sh/forum) (new link format 2)", 1, expectedActions: LinkAction.External);
+            addMessageWithChecks("[https://osu.ppy.sh/home This is only a link to the new osu webpage but this is supposed to test word wrap.]", 1, expectedActions: LinkAction.External);
+            addMessageWithChecks("is now listening to [https://osu.ppy.sh/s/93523 IMAGE -MATERIAL- <Version 0>]", 1, true, expectedActions: LinkAction.OpenBeatmapSet);
+            addMessageWithChecks("is now playing [https://osu.ppy.sh/b/252238 IMAGE -MATERIAL- <Version 0>]", 1, true, expectedActions: LinkAction.OpenBeatmap);
+            addMessageWithChecks("Let's (try)[https://osu.ppy.sh/home] [https://osu.ppy.sh/b/252238 multiple links] https://osu.ppy.sh/home", 3,
+                expectedActions: new[] { LinkAction.External, LinkAction.OpenBeatmap, LinkAction.External });
+            // note that there's 0 links here (they get removed if a channel is not found)
+            addMessageWithChecks("#lobby or #osu would be blue (and work) in the ChatDisplay test (when a proper ChatOverlay is present).");
+            addMessageWithChecks("I am important!", 0, false, true);
+            addMessageWithChecks("feels important", 0, true, true);
+            addMessageWithChecks("likes to post this [https://osu.ppy.sh/home link].", 1, true, true, expectedActions: LinkAction.External);
+            addMessageWithChecks("Join my multiplayer game osump://12346.", 1, expectedActions: LinkAction.JoinMultiplayerMatch);
+            addMessageWithChecks("Join my [multiplayer game](osump://12346).", 1, expectedActions: LinkAction.JoinMultiplayerMatch);
+            addMessageWithChecks("Join my [#english](osu://chan/#english).", 1, expectedActions: LinkAction.OpenChannel);
+            addMessageWithChecks("Join my osu://chan/#english.", 1, expectedActions: LinkAction.OpenChannel);
+            addMessageWithChecks("Join my #english or #japanese channels.", 2, expectedActions: new[] { LinkAction.OpenChannel, LinkAction.OpenChannel });
+            addMessageWithChecks("Join my #english or #nonexistent #hashtag channels.", 1, expectedActions: LinkAction.OpenChannel);
+        }
+
+        private void testEcho()
+        {
+            int echoCounter = 0;
+
+            addEchoWithWait("sent!", "received!");
+            addEchoWithWait("https://osu.ppy.sh/home", null, 500);
+            addEchoWithWait("[https://osu.ppy.sh/forum let's try multiple words too!]");
+            addEchoWithWait("(long loading times! clickable while loading?)[https://osu.ppy.sh/home]", null, 5000);
+
+            void addEchoWithWait(string text, string completeText = null, double delay = 250)
+            {
+                var newLine = new ChatLine(new DummyEchoMessage(text));
+
+                AddStep($"send msg #{++echoCounter} after {delay}ms", () =>
+                {
+                    textContainer.Add(newLine);
+                    Scheduler.AddDelayed(() => newLine.Message = new DummyMessage(completeText ?? text), delay);
+                });
+
+                AddUntilStep(() => textContainer.All(line => line.Message is DummyMessage), $"wait for msg #{echoCounter}");
+            }
+        }
+
+        private class DummyEchoMessage : LocalEchoMessage
+        {
+            public DummyEchoMessage(string text)
+            {
+                Content = text;
+                Timestamp = DateTimeOffset.Now;
+                Sender = DummyMessage.TEST_SENDER;
+            }
+        }
+
+        private class DummyMessage : Message
+        {
+            private static long messageCounter;
+
+            internal static readonly User TEST_SENDER_BACKGROUND = new User
+            {
+                Username = @"i-am-important",
+                Id = 42,
+                Colour = "#250cc9",
+            };
+
+            internal static readonly User TEST_SENDER = new User
+            {
+                Username = @"Somebody",
+                Id = 1,
+            };
+
+            public new DateTimeOffset Timestamp = DateTimeOffset.Now;
+
+            public DummyMessage(string text, bool isAction = false, bool isImportant = false, int number = 0)
+                : base(messageCounter++)
+            {
+                Content = text;
+                IsAction = isAction;
+                Sender = new User
+                {
+                    Username = $"User {number}",
+                    Id = number,
+                    Colour = isImportant ? "#250cc9" : null,
+                };
+            }
+        }
+
+        private class TestChatLineContainer : FillFlowContainer<ChatLine>
+        {
+            protected override int Compare(Drawable x, Drawable y)
+            {
+                var xC = (ChatLine)x;
+                var yC = (ChatLine)y;
+
+                return xC.Message.CompareTo(yC.Message);
+            }
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/osu.Game.Tests/Visual/TestCaseEditorSelectionLayer.cs b/osu.Game.Tests/Visual/TestCaseEditorSelectionLayer.cs
index f236182939..755800c4e1 100644
--- a/osu.Game.Tests/Visual/TestCaseEditorSelectionLayer.cs
+++ b/osu.Game.Tests/Visual/TestCaseEditorSelectionLayer.cs
@@ -8,6 +8,8 @@ using OpenTK;
 using osu.Framework.Graphics;
 using osu.Framework.Graphics.Containers;
 using osu.Framework.Timing;
+using osu.Game.Beatmaps;
+using osu.Game.Beatmaps.ControlPoints;
 using osu.Game.Rulesets.Edit.Layers.Selection;
 using osu.Game.Rulesets.Osu.Edit;
 using osu.Game.Rulesets.Osu.Objects;
@@ -35,9 +37,9 @@ namespace osu.Game.Tests.Visual
                 new SelectionLayer(playfield)
             };
 
-            playfield.Add(new DrawableHitCircle(new HitCircle { Position = new Vector2(256, 192), Scale = 0.5f }));
-            playfield.Add(new DrawableHitCircle(new HitCircle { Position = new Vector2(344, 148), Scale = 0.5f }));
-            playfield.Add(new DrawableSlider(new Slider
+            var hitCircle1 = new HitCircle { Position = new Vector2(256, 192), Scale = 0.5f };
+            var hitCircle2 = new HitCircle { Position = new Vector2(344, 148), Scale = 0.5f };
+            var slider = new Slider
             {
                 ControlPoints = new List<Vector2>
                 {
@@ -48,8 +50,16 @@ namespace osu.Game.Tests.Visual
                 Position = new Vector2(128, 256),
                 Velocity = 1,
                 TickDistance = 100,
-                Scale = 0.5f
-            }));
+                Scale = 0.5f,
+            };
+
+            hitCircle1.ApplyDefaults(new ControlPointInfo(), new BeatmapDifficulty());
+            hitCircle2.ApplyDefaults(new ControlPointInfo(), new BeatmapDifficulty());
+            slider.ApplyDefaults(new ControlPointInfo(), new BeatmapDifficulty());
+
+            playfield.Add(new DrawableHitCircle(hitCircle1));
+            playfield.Add(new DrawableHitCircle(hitCircle2));
+            playfield.Add(new DrawableSlider(slider));
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/osu.Game.Tests/osu.Game.Tests.csproj b/osu.Game.Tests/osu.Game.Tests.csproj
index d30241fae4..8301f1f734 100644
--- a/osu.Game.Tests/osu.Game.Tests.csproj
+++ b/osu.Game.Tests/osu.Game.Tests.csproj
@@ -94,6 +94,7 @@
     <Compile Include="Beatmaps\Formats\LegacyStoryboardDecoderTest.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Beatmaps\IO\OszArchiveReaderTest.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Beatmaps\IO\ImportBeatmapTest.cs" />
+    <Compile Include="Chat\MessageFormatterTests.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Resources\Resource.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Beatmaps\Formats\LegacyBeatmapDecoderTest.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Visual\TestCaseBeatmapCarousel.cs" />
@@ -137,6 +138,7 @@
     <Compile Include="Visual\TestCaseOnScreenDisplay.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Visual\TestCaseAllPlayers.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Visual\TestCaseOsuGame.cs" />
+    <Compile Include="Visual\TestCaseChatLink.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Visual\TestCasePlaybackControl.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Visual\TestCasePlaySongSelect.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Visual\TestCasePopupDialog.cs" />
diff --git a/osu.Game/Graphics/Containers/LinkFlowContainer.cs b/osu.Game/Graphics/Containers/LinkFlowContainer.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..9f1b44af44
--- /dev/null
+++ b/osu.Game/Graphics/Containers/LinkFlowContainer.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,100 @@
+// Copyright (c) 2007-2018 ppy Pty Ltd <contact@ppy.sh>.
+// Licensed under the MIT Licence - https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ppy/osu/master/LICENCE
+
+using osu.Game.Online.Chat;
+using System;
+using System.Diagnostics;
+using System.Linq;
+using osu.Framework.Allocation;
+using osu.Framework.Graphics.Sprites;
+using System.Collections.Generic;
+using osu.Game.Overlays;
+using osu.Game.Overlays.Notifications;
+
+namespace osu.Game.Graphics.Containers
+{
+    public class LinkFlowContainer : OsuTextFlowContainer
+    {
+        public LinkFlowContainer(Action<SpriteText> defaultCreationParameters = null)
+            : base(defaultCreationParameters)
+        {
+        }
+
+        public override bool HandleMouseInput => true;
+
+        private OsuGame game;
+
+        private Action showNotImplementedError;
+
+        [BackgroundDependencyLoader(true)]
+        private void load(OsuGame game, NotificationOverlay notifications)
+        {
+            // will be null in tests
+            this.game = game;
+
+            showNotImplementedError = () => notifications?.Post(new SimpleNotification
+            {
+                Text = @"This link type is not yet supported!",
+                Icon = FontAwesome.fa_life_saver,
+            });
+        }
+
+        public void AddLinks(string text, List<Link> links)
+        {
+            if (string.IsNullOrEmpty(text) || links == null)
+                return;
+
+            if (links.Count == 0)
+            {
+                AddText(text);
+                return;
+            }
+
+            int previousLinkEnd = 0;
+            foreach (var link in links)
+            {
+                AddText(text.Substring(previousLinkEnd, link.Index - previousLinkEnd));
+                AddLink(text.Substring(link.Index, link.Length), link.Url, link.Action, link.Argument);
+                previousLinkEnd = link.Index + link.Length;
+            }
+
+            AddText(text.Substring(previousLinkEnd));
+        }
+
+        public void AddLink(string text, string url, LinkAction linkType = LinkAction.External, string linkArgument = null, string tooltipText = null)
+        {
+            AddInternal(new DrawableLinkCompiler(AddText(text).ToList())
+            {
+                TooltipText = tooltipText ?? (url != text ? url : string.Empty),
+                Action = () =>
+                {
+                    switch (linkType)
+                    {
+                        case LinkAction.OpenBeatmap:
+                            // todo: replace this with overlay.ShowBeatmap(id) once an appropriate API call is implemented.
+                            if (int.TryParse(linkArgument, out int beatmapId))
+                                Process.Start($"https://osu.ppy.sh/b/{beatmapId}");
+                            break;
+                        case LinkAction.OpenBeatmapSet:
+                            if (int.TryParse(linkArgument, out int setId))
+                                game?.ShowBeatmapSet(setId);
+                            break;
+                        case LinkAction.OpenChannel:
+                            game?.OpenChannel(linkArgument);
+                            break;
+                        case LinkAction.OpenEditorTimestamp:
+                        case LinkAction.JoinMultiplayerMatch:
+                        case LinkAction.Spectate:
+                            showNotImplementedError?.Invoke();
+                            break;
+                        case LinkAction.External:
+                            Process.Start(url);
+                            break;
+                        default:
+                            throw new NotImplementedException($"This {nameof(LinkAction)} ({linkType.ToString()}) is missing an associated action.");
+                    }
+                },
+            });
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/osu.Game/Graphics/Containers/OsuClickableContainer.cs b/osu.Game/Graphics/Containers/OsuClickableContainer.cs
index 4e95050bda..b9ee1f4463 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Graphics/Containers/OsuClickableContainer.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Graphics/Containers/OsuClickableContainer.cs
@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@ namespace osu.Game.Graphics.Containers
 
         protected override Container<Drawable> Content => content;
 
+        protected virtual HoverClickSounds CreateHoverClickSounds(HoverSampleSet sampleSet) => new HoverClickSounds(sampleSet);
+
         public OsuClickableContainer(HoverSampleSet sampleSet = HoverSampleSet.Normal)
         {
             this.sampleSet = sampleSet;
@@ -33,7 +35,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Graphics.Containers
             InternalChildren = new Drawable[]
             {
                 content,
-                new HoverClickSounds(sampleSet)
+                CreateHoverClickSounds(sampleSet)
             };
         }
     }
diff --git a/osu.Game/Graphics/Containers/OsuHoverContainer.cs b/osu.Game/Graphics/Containers/OsuHoverContainer.cs
index 7c62e90f56..fd1742871b 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Graphics/Containers/OsuHoverContainer.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Graphics/Containers/OsuHoverContainer.cs
@@ -1,8 +1,10 @@
 // Copyright (c) 2007-2018 ppy Pty Ltd <contact@ppy.sh>.
 // Licensed under the MIT Licence - https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ppy/osu/master/LICENCE
 
+using System.Collections.Generic;
 using OpenTK.Graphics;
 using osu.Framework.Allocation;
+using osu.Framework.Extensions.IEnumerableExtensions;
 using osu.Framework.Graphics;
 using osu.Framework.Input;
 
@@ -10,24 +12,34 @@ namespace osu.Game.Graphics.Containers
 {
     public class OsuHoverContainer : OsuClickableContainer
     {
-        private Color4 hoverColour;
+        protected Color4 HoverColour;
+
+        protected Color4 IdleColour = Color4.White;
+
+        protected virtual IEnumerable<Drawable> EffectTargets => new[] { Content };
 
         protected override bool OnHover(InputState state)
         {
-            this.FadeColour(hoverColour, 500, Easing.OutQuint);
+            EffectTargets.ForEach(d => d.FadeColour(HoverColour, 500, Easing.OutQuint));
             return base.OnHover(state);
         }
 
         protected override void OnHoverLost(InputState state)
         {
-            this.FadeColour(Color4.White, 500, Easing.OutQuint);
+            EffectTargets.ForEach(d => d.FadeColour(IdleColour, 500, Easing.OutQuint));
             base.OnHoverLost(state);
         }
 
         [BackgroundDependencyLoader]
         private void load(OsuColour colours)
         {
-            hoverColour = colours.Yellow;
+            HoverColour = colours.Yellow;
+        }
+
+        protected override void LoadComplete()
+        {
+            base.LoadComplete();
+            EffectTargets.ForEach(d => d.FadeColour(IdleColour));
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/osu.Game/Graphics/UserInterface/IconButton.cs b/osu.Game/Graphics/UserInterface/IconButton.cs
index bcf6ab92b6..5b266d9a59 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Graphics/UserInterface/IconButton.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Graphics/UserInterface/IconButton.cs
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Graphics.UserInterface
 {
     public class IconButton : OsuClickableContainer
     {
-        private const float button_size = 30;
+        public const float BUTTON_SIZE = 30;
 
         private Color4? flashColour;
         /// <summary>
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Graphics.UserInterface
                 {
                     Origin = Anchor.Centre,
                     Anchor = Anchor.Centre,
-                    Size = new Vector2(button_size),
+                    Size = new Vector2(BUTTON_SIZE),
                     CornerRadius = 5,
                     Masking = true,
                     EdgeEffect = new EdgeEffectParameters
diff --git a/osu.Game/Graphics/UserInterface/Volume/VolumeControl.cs b/osu.Game/Graphics/UserInterface/Volume/VolumeControl.cs
index 33888e57e0..ccf70af6ed 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Graphics/UserInterface/Volume/VolumeControl.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Graphics/UserInterface/Volume/VolumeControl.cs
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ using osu.Framework.Threading;
 using OpenTK;
 using osu.Framework.Audio;
 using osu.Framework.Allocation;
+using osu.Framework.Configuration;
 using osu.Game.Input.Bindings;
 
 namespace osu.Game.Graphics.UserInterface.Volume
@@ -14,6 +15,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Graphics.UserInterface.Volume
     public class VolumeControl : OverlayContainer
     {
         private readonly VolumeMeter volumeMeterMaster;
+        private readonly IconButton muteIcon;
 
         protected override bool BlockPassThroughMouse => false;
 
@@ -34,6 +36,17 @@ namespace osu.Game.Graphics.UserInterface.Volume
                     Spacing = new Vector2(15, 0),
                     Children = new Drawable[]
                     {
+                        new Container
+                        {
+                            Size = new Vector2(IconButton.BUTTON_SIZE),
+                            Child = muteIcon = new IconButton
+                            {
+                                Anchor = Anchor.Centre,
+                                Origin = Anchor.Centre,
+                                Icon = FontAwesome.fa_volume_up,
+                                Action = () => Adjust(GlobalAction.ToggleMute),
+                            }
+                        },
                         volumeMeterMaster = new VolumeMeter("Master"),
                         volumeMeterEffect = new VolumeMeter("Effects"),
                         volumeMeterMusic = new VolumeMeter("Music")
@@ -46,18 +59,10 @@ namespace osu.Game.Graphics.UserInterface.Volume
         {
             base.LoadComplete();
 
-            volumeMeterMaster.Bindable.ValueChanged += volumeChanged;
-            volumeMeterEffect.Bindable.ValueChanged += volumeChanged;
-            volumeMeterMusic.Bindable.ValueChanged += volumeChanged;
-        }
-
-        protected override void Dispose(bool isDisposing)
-        {
-            base.Dispose(isDisposing);
-
-            volumeMeterMaster.Bindable.ValueChanged -= volumeChanged;
-            volumeMeterEffect.Bindable.ValueChanged -= volumeChanged;
-            volumeMeterMusic.Bindable.ValueChanged -= volumeChanged;
+            volumeMeterMaster.Bindable.ValueChanged += _ => settingChanged();
+            volumeMeterEffect.Bindable.ValueChanged += _ => settingChanged();
+            volumeMeterMusic.Bindable.ValueChanged += _ => settingChanged();
+            muted.ValueChanged += _ => settingChanged();
         }
 
         public bool Adjust(GlobalAction action)
@@ -76,23 +81,45 @@ namespace osu.Game.Graphics.UserInterface.Volume
                     else
                         volumeMeterMaster.Increase();
                     return true;
+                case GlobalAction.ToggleMute:
+                    Show();
+                    muted.Toggle();
+                    return true;
             }
 
             return false;
         }
 
-        private void volumeChanged(double newVolume)
+        private void settingChanged()
         {
             Show();
             schedulePopOut();
         }
 
+        private readonly BindableDouble muteAdjustment = new BindableDouble();
+
+        private readonly BindableBool muted = new BindableBool();
+
         [BackgroundDependencyLoader]
         private void load(AudioManager audio)
         {
             volumeMeterMaster.Bindable.BindTo(audio.Volume);
             volumeMeterEffect.Bindable.BindTo(audio.VolumeSample);
             volumeMeterMusic.Bindable.BindTo(audio.VolumeTrack);
+
+            muted.ValueChanged += mute =>
+            {
+                if (mute)
+                {
+                    audio.AddAdjustment(AdjustableProperty.Volume, muteAdjustment);
+                    muteIcon.Icon = FontAwesome.fa_volume_off;
+                }
+                else
+                {
+                    audio.RemoveAdjustment(AdjustableProperty.Volume, muteAdjustment);
+                    muteIcon.Icon = FontAwesome.fa_volume_up;
+                }
+            };
         }
 
         private ScheduledDelegate popOutDelegate;
diff --git a/osu.Game/Graphics/UserInterface/Volume/VolumeMeter.cs b/osu.Game/Graphics/UserInterface/Volume/VolumeMeter.cs
index 8323dade44..ef3702fdf3 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Graphics/UserInterface/Volume/VolumeMeter.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Graphics/UserInterface/Volume/VolumeMeter.cs
@@ -70,11 +70,8 @@ namespace osu.Game.Graphics.UserInterface.Volume
 
         public double Volume
         {
-            get { return Bindable.Value; }
-            private set
-            {
-                Bindable.Value = value;
-            }
+            get => Bindable.Value;
+            private set => Bindable.Value = value;
         }
 
         public void Increase()
diff --git a/osu.Game/Input/Bindings/GlobalActionContainer.cs b/osu.Game/Input/Bindings/GlobalActionContainer.cs
index 46cda845aa..17ec2af4b9 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Input/Bindings/GlobalActionContainer.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Input/Bindings/GlobalActionContainer.cs
@@ -29,10 +29,11 @@ namespace osu.Game.Input.Bindings
             new KeyBinding(new[] { InputKey.Control, InputKey.Alt, InputKey.R }, GlobalAction.ResetInputSettings),
             new KeyBinding(new[] { InputKey.Control, InputKey.T }, GlobalAction.ToggleToolbar),
             new KeyBinding(new[] { InputKey.Control, InputKey.O }, GlobalAction.ToggleSettings),
-            new KeyBinding(new[] { InputKey.Up }, GlobalAction.IncreaseVolume),
-            new KeyBinding(new[] { InputKey.MouseWheelUp }, GlobalAction.IncreaseVolume),
-            new KeyBinding(new[] { InputKey.Down }, GlobalAction.DecreaseVolume),
-            new KeyBinding(new[] { InputKey.MouseWheelDown }, GlobalAction.DecreaseVolume),
+            new KeyBinding(InputKey.Up, GlobalAction.IncreaseVolume),
+            new KeyBinding(InputKey.MouseWheelUp, GlobalAction.IncreaseVolume),
+            new KeyBinding(InputKey.Down, GlobalAction.DecreaseVolume),
+            new KeyBinding(InputKey.MouseWheelDown, GlobalAction.DecreaseVolume),
+            new KeyBinding(InputKey.F4, GlobalAction.ToggleMute),
         };
 
         public IEnumerable<KeyBinding> InGameKeyBindings => new[]
@@ -63,6 +64,8 @@ namespace osu.Game.Input.Bindings
         IncreaseVolume,
         [Description("Decrease Volume")]
         DecreaseVolume,
+        [Description("Toggle mute")]
+        ToggleMute,
 
         // In-Game Keybindings
         [Description("Skip Cutscene")]
diff --git a/osu.Game/Migrations/20180131154205_AddMuteBinding.cs b/osu.Game/Migrations/20180131154205_AddMuteBinding.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..fc1f2fff55
--- /dev/null
+++ b/osu.Game/Migrations/20180131154205_AddMuteBinding.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+using Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore.Migrations;
+using System;
+using System.Collections.Generic;
+using Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore.Infrastructure;
+using osu.Game.Database;
+using osu.Game.Input.Bindings;
+
+namespace osu.Game.Migrations
+{
+    [DbContext(typeof(OsuDbContext))]
+    [Migration("20180131154205_AddMuteBinding")]
+    public partial class AddMuteBinding : Migration
+    {
+        protected override void Up(MigrationBuilder migrationBuilder)
+        {
+            migrationBuilder.Sql($"UPDATE KeyBinding SET Action = Action + 1 WHERE RulesetID IS NULL AND Variant IS NULL AND Action >= {(int)GlobalAction.ToggleMute}");
+        }
+
+        protected override void Down(MigrationBuilder migrationBuilder)
+        {
+            migrationBuilder.Sql($"DELETE FROM KeyBinding WHERE RulesetID IS NULL AND Variant IS NULL AND Action = {(int)GlobalAction.ToggleMute}");
+            migrationBuilder.Sql($"UPDATE KeyBinding SET Action = Action - 1 WHERE RulesetID IS NULL AND Variant IS NULL AND Action > {(int)GlobalAction.ToggleMute}");
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/osu.Game/Online/Chat/DrawableLinkCompiler.cs b/osu.Game/Online/Chat/DrawableLinkCompiler.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..234781fb52
--- /dev/null
+++ b/osu.Game/Online/Chat/DrawableLinkCompiler.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,59 @@
+// Copyright (c) 2007-2018 ppy Pty Ltd <contact@ppy.sh>.
+// Licensed under the MIT Licence - https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ppy/osu/master/LICENCE
+
+using osu.Framework.Graphics.Cursor;
+using System.Collections.Generic;
+using System.Linq;
+using osu.Framework.Allocation;
+using osu.Framework.Graphics;
+using osu.Framework.Graphics.Sprites;
+using osu.Game.Graphics;
+using osu.Game.Graphics.Containers;
+using osu.Game.Graphics.UserInterface;
+using OpenTK;
+
+namespace osu.Game.Online.Chat
+{
+    /// <summary>
+    /// An invisible drawable that brings multiple <see cref="SpriteText"/> pieces together to form a consumable clickable link.
+    /// </summary>
+    public class DrawableLinkCompiler : OsuHoverContainer, IHasTooltip
+    {
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Each word part of a chat link (split for word-wrap support).
+        /// </summary>
+        public List<SpriteText> Parts;
+
+        public override bool ReceiveMouseInputAt(Vector2 screenSpacePos) => Parts.Any(d => d.ReceiveMouseInputAt(screenSpacePos));
+
+        protected override HoverClickSounds CreateHoverClickSounds(HoverSampleSet sampleSet) => new LinkHoverSounds(sampleSet, Parts);
+
+        public DrawableLinkCompiler(IEnumerable<SpriteText> parts)
+        {
+            Parts = parts.ToList();
+        }
+
+        [BackgroundDependencyLoader]
+        private void load(OsuColour colours)
+        {
+            IdleColour = colours.Blue;
+        }
+
+        protected override IEnumerable<Drawable> EffectTargets => Parts;
+
+        public string TooltipText { get; set; }
+
+        private class LinkHoverSounds : HoverClickSounds
+        {
+            private readonly List<SpriteText> parts;
+
+            public LinkHoverSounds(HoverSampleSet sampleSet, List<SpriteText> parts)
+                : base(sampleSet)
+            {
+                this.parts = parts;
+            }
+
+            public override bool ReceiveMouseInputAt(Vector2 screenSpacePos) => parts.Any(d => d.ReceiveMouseInputAt(screenSpacePos));
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/osu.Game/Online/Chat/Message.cs b/osu.Game/Online/Chat/Message.cs
index bc79469ce0..99735c4d65 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Online/Chat/Message.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Online/Chat/Message.cs
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 // Licensed under the MIT Licence - https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ppy/osu/master/LICENCE
 
 using System;
+using System.Collections.Generic;
 using System.ComponentModel;
 using Newtonsoft.Json;
 using osu.Game.Users;
@@ -40,6 +41,17 @@ namespace osu.Game.Online.Chat
         {
         }
 
+        /// <summary>
+        /// The text that is displayed in chat.
+        /// </summary>
+        public string DisplayContent { get; set; }
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// The links found in this message.
+        /// </summary>
+        /// <remarks>The <see cref="Link"/>s' <see cref="Link.Index"/> and <see cref="Link.Length"/>s are according to <see cref="DisplayContent"/></remarks>
+        public List<Link> Links;
+
         public Message(long? id)
         {
             Id = id;
diff --git a/osu.Game/Online/Chat/MessageFormatter.cs b/osu.Game/Online/Chat/MessageFormatter.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..906f42d50e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/osu.Game/Online/Chat/MessageFormatter.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,263 @@
+// Copyright (c) 2007-2018 ppy Pty Ltd <contact@ppy.sh>.
+// Licensed under the MIT Licence - https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ppy/osu/master/LICENCE
+
+using System;
+using System.Collections.Generic;
+using System.Text.RegularExpressions;
+
+namespace osu.Game.Online.Chat
+{
+    public static class MessageFormatter
+    {
+        // [[Performance Points]] -> wiki:Performance Points (https://osu.ppy.sh/wiki/Performance_Points)
+        private static readonly Regex wiki_regex = new Regex(@"\[\[([^\]]+)\]\]");
+
+        // (test)[https://osu.ppy.sh/b/1234] -> test (https://osu.ppy.sh/b/1234)
+        private static readonly Regex old_link_regex = new Regex(@"\(([^\)]*)\)\[([a-z]+://[^ ]+)\]");
+
+        // [https://osu.ppy.sh/b/1234 Beatmap [Hard] (poop)] -> Beatmap [hard] (poop) (https://osu.ppy.sh/b/1234)
+        private static readonly Regex new_link_regex = new Regex(@"\[([a-z]+://[^ ]+) ([^\[\]]*(((?<open>\[)[^\[\]]*)+((?<close-open>\])[^\[\]]*)+)*(?(open)(?!)))\]");
+
+        // [test](https://osu.ppy.sh/b/1234) -> test (https://osu.ppy.sh/b/1234) aka correct markdown format
+        private static readonly Regex markdown_link_regex = new Regex(@"\[([^\]]*)\]\(([a-z]+://[^ ]+)\)");
+
+        // advanced, RFC-compatible regular expression that matches any possible URL, *but* allows certain invalid characters that are widely used
+        // This is in the format (<required>, [optional]):
+        //      http[s]://<domain>.<tld>[:port][/path][?query][#fragment]
+        private static readonly Regex advanced_link_regex = new Regex(
+                // protocol
+                @"(?<link>[a-z]*?:\/\/" +
+                // domain + tld
+                @"(?<domain>(?:[a-z0-9]\.|[a-z0-9][a-z0-9-]*[a-z0-9]\.)*[a-z0-9-]*[a-z0-9]" +
+                // port (optional)
+                @"(?::\d+)?)" +
+                // path (optional)
+                @"(?<path>(?:(?:\/+(?:[a-z0-9$_\.\+!\*\',;:\(\)@&~=-]|%[0-9a-f]{2})*)*" +
+                // query (optional)
+                @"(?:\?(?:[a-z0-9$_\+!\*\',;:\(\)@&=\/~-]|%[0-9a-f]{2})*)?)?" +
+                // fragment (optional)
+                @"(?:#(?:[a-z0-9$_\+!\*\',;:\(\)@&=\/~-]|%[0-9a-f]{2})*)?)?)",
+                RegexOptions.IgnoreCase);
+
+        // 00:00:000 (1,2,3) - test
+        private static readonly Regex time_regex = new Regex(@"\d\d:\d\d:\d\d\d? [^-]*");
+
+        // #osu
+        private static readonly Regex channel_regex = new Regex(@"(#[a-zA-Z]+[a-zA-Z0-9]+)");
+
+        // Unicode emojis
+        private static readonly Regex emoji_regex = new Regex(@"(\uD83D[\uDC00-\uDE4F])");
+
+        private static void handleMatches(Regex regex, string display, string link, MessageFormatterResult result, int startIndex = 0, LinkAction? linkActionOverride = null)
+        {
+            int captureOffset = 0;
+            foreach (Match m in regex.Matches(result.Text, startIndex))
+            {
+                var index = m.Index - captureOffset;
+
+                var displayText = string.Format(display,
+                                                m.Groups[0],
+                                                m.Groups.Count > 1 ? m.Groups[1].Value : "",
+                                                m.Groups.Count > 2 ? m.Groups[2].Value : "").Trim();
+
+                var linkText = string.Format(link,
+                                                m.Groups[0],
+                                                m.Groups.Count > 1 ? m.Groups[1].Value : "",
+                                                m.Groups.Count > 2 ? m.Groups[2].Value : "").Trim();
+
+                if (displayText.Length == 0 || linkText.Length == 0) continue;
+
+                // Check for encapsulated links
+                if (result.Links.Find(l => l.Index <= index && l.Index + l.Length >= index + m.Length || index <= l.Index && index + m.Length >= l.Index + l.Length) == null)
+                {
+                    result.Text = result.Text.Remove(index, m.Length).Insert(index, displayText);
+
+                    //since we just changed the line display text, offset any already processed links.
+                    result.Links.ForEach(l => l.Index -= l.Index > index ? m.Length - displayText.Length : 0);
+
+                    var details = getLinkDetails(linkText);
+                    result.Links.Add(new Link(linkText, index, displayText.Length, linkActionOverride ?? details.Action, details.Argument));
+
+                    //adjust the offset for processing the current matches group.
+                    captureOffset += m.Length - displayText.Length;
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
+        private static void handleAdvanced(Regex regex, MessageFormatterResult result, int startIndex = 0)
+        {
+            foreach (Match m in regex.Matches(result.Text, startIndex))
+            {
+                var index = m.Index;
+                var link = m.Groups["link"].Value;
+                var indexLength = link.Length;
+
+                var details = getLinkDetails(link);
+                result.Links.Add(new Link(link, index, indexLength, details.Action, details.Argument));
+            }
+        }
+
+        private static LinkDetails getLinkDetails(string url)
+        {
+            var args = url.Split(new[] { '/' }, StringSplitOptions.RemoveEmptyEntries);
+            args[0] = args[0].TrimEnd(':');
+
+            switch (args[0])
+            {
+                case "http":
+                case "https":
+                    // length > 3 since all these links need another argument to work
+                    if (args.Length > 3 && (args[1] == "osu.ppy.sh" || args[1] == "new.ppy.sh"))
+                    {
+                        switch (args[2])
+                        {
+                            case "b":
+                            case "beatmaps":
+                                return new LinkDetails(LinkAction.OpenBeatmap, args[3]);
+                            case "s":
+                            case "beatmapsets":
+                            case "d":
+                                return new LinkDetails(LinkAction.OpenBeatmapSet, args[3]);
+                        }
+                    }
+
+                    return new LinkDetails(LinkAction.External, null);
+                case "osu":
+                    // every internal link also needs some kind of argument
+                    if (args.Length < 3)
+                        return new LinkDetails(LinkAction.External, null);
+
+                    LinkAction linkType;
+                    switch (args[1])
+                    {
+                        case "chan":
+                            linkType = LinkAction.OpenChannel;
+                            break;
+                        case "edit":
+                            linkType = LinkAction.OpenEditorTimestamp;
+                            break;
+                        case "b":
+                            linkType = LinkAction.OpenBeatmap;
+                            break;
+                        case "s":
+                        case "dl":
+                            linkType = LinkAction.OpenBeatmapSet;
+                            break;
+                        case "spectate":
+                            linkType = LinkAction.Spectate;
+                            break;
+                        default:
+                            linkType = LinkAction.External;
+                            break;
+                    }
+
+                    return new LinkDetails(linkType, args[2]);
+                case "osump":
+                    return new LinkDetails(LinkAction.JoinMultiplayerMatch, args[1]);
+                default:
+                    return new LinkDetails(LinkAction.External, null);
+            }
+        }
+
+        private static MessageFormatterResult format(string toFormat, int startIndex = 0, int space = 3)
+        {
+            var result = new MessageFormatterResult(toFormat);
+
+            // handle the [link display] format
+            handleMatches(new_link_regex, "{2}", "{1}", result, startIndex);
+
+            // handle the standard markdown []() format
+            handleMatches(markdown_link_regex, "{1}", "{2}", result, startIndex);
+
+            // handle the ()[] link format
+            handleMatches(old_link_regex, "{1}", "{2}", result, startIndex);
+
+            // handle wiki links
+            handleMatches(wiki_regex, "{1}", "https://osu.ppy.sh/wiki/{1}", result, startIndex);
+
+            // handle bare links
+            handleAdvanced(advanced_link_regex, result, startIndex);
+
+            // handle editor times
+            handleMatches(time_regex, "{0}", "osu://edit/{0}", result, startIndex, LinkAction.OpenEditorTimestamp);
+
+            // handle channels
+            handleMatches(channel_regex, "{0}", "osu://chan/{0}", result, startIndex, LinkAction.OpenChannel);
+
+            var empty = "";
+            while (space-- > 0)
+                empty += "\0";
+
+            handleMatches(emoji_regex, empty, "{0}", result, startIndex);
+
+            return result;
+        }
+
+        public static Message FormatMessage(Message inputMessage)
+        {
+            var result = format(inputMessage.Content);
+
+            inputMessage.DisplayContent = result.Text;
+
+            // Sometimes, regex matches are not in order
+            result.Links.Sort();
+            inputMessage.Links = result.Links;
+            return inputMessage;
+        }
+
+        public class MessageFormatterResult
+        {
+            public List<Link> Links = new List<Link>();
+            public string Text;
+            public string OriginalText;
+
+            public MessageFormatterResult(string text)
+            {
+                OriginalText = Text = text;
+            }
+        }
+
+        public class LinkDetails
+        {
+            public LinkAction Action;
+            public string Argument;
+
+            public LinkDetails(LinkAction action, string argument)
+            {
+                Action = action;
+                Argument = argument;
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    public enum LinkAction
+    {
+        External,
+        OpenBeatmap,
+        OpenBeatmapSet,
+        OpenChannel,
+        OpenEditorTimestamp,
+        JoinMultiplayerMatch,
+        Spectate,
+    }
+
+    public class Link : IComparable<Link>
+    {
+        public string Url;
+        public int Index;
+        public int Length;
+        public LinkAction Action;
+        public string Argument;
+
+        public Link(string url, int startIndex, int length, LinkAction action, string argument)
+        {
+            Url = url;
+            Index = startIndex;
+            Length = length;
+            Action = action;
+            Argument = argument;
+        }
+
+        public int CompareTo(Link otherLink) => Index > otherLink.Index ? 1 : -1;
+    }
+}
diff --git a/osu.Game/OsuGame.cs b/osu.Game/OsuGame.cs
index b667bc6876..624179cfe1 100644
--- a/osu.Game/OsuGame.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/OsuGame.cs
@@ -128,6 +128,18 @@ namespace osu.Game
 
         private ScheduledDelegate scoreLoad;
 
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Open chat to a channel matching the provided name, if present.
+        /// </summary>
+        /// <param name="channelName">The name of the channel.</param>
+        public void OpenChannel(string channelName) => chat.OpenChannel(chat.AvailableChannels.Find(c => c.Name == channelName));
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Show a beatmap set as an overlay.
+        /// </summary>
+        /// <param name="setId">The set to display.</param>
+        public void ShowBeatmapSet(int setId) => beatmapSetOverlay.ShowBeatmapSet(setId);
+
         protected void LoadScore(Score s)
         {
             scoreLoad?.Cancel();
diff --git a/osu.Game/Overlays/Chat/ChatLine.cs b/osu.Game/Overlays/Chat/ChatLine.cs
index 4895c3a37c..dd41dd5428 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Overlays/Chat/ChatLine.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Overlays/Chat/ChatLine.cs
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 // Copyright (c) 2007-2018 ppy Pty Ltd <contact@ppy.sh>.
 // Licensed under the MIT Licence - https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ppy/osu/master/LICENCE
 
+using System.Linq;
 using OpenTK;
 using OpenTK.Graphics;
 using osu.Framework.Allocation;
@@ -82,16 +83,18 @@ namespace osu.Game.Overlays.Chat
 
         private Message message;
         private OsuSpriteText username;
-        private OsuTextFlowContainer contentFlow;
+        private LinkFlowContainer contentFlow;
+
+        public LinkFlowContainer ContentFlow => contentFlow;
 
         public Message Message
         {
-            get { return message; }
+            get => message;
             set
             {
                 if (message == value) return;
 
-                message = value;
+                message = MessageFormatter.FormatMessage(value);
 
                 if (!IsLoaded)
                     return;
@@ -101,8 +104,9 @@ namespace osu.Game.Overlays.Chat
         }
 
         [BackgroundDependencyLoader(true)]
-        private void load(OsuColour colours)
+        private void load(OsuColour colours, ChatOverlay chat)
         {
+            this.chat = chat;
             customUsernameColour = colours.ChatBlue;
         }
 
@@ -187,7 +191,18 @@ namespace osu.Game.Overlays.Chat
                     Padding = new MarginPadding { Left = message_padding + padding },
                     Children = new Drawable[]
                     {
-                        contentFlow = new OsuTextFlowContainer(t => { t.TextSize = text_size; })
+                        contentFlow = new LinkFlowContainer(t =>
+                        {
+                            if (Message.IsAction)
+                            {
+                                t.Font = @"Exo2.0-MediumItalic";
+
+                                if (senderHasBackground)
+                                    t.Colour = OsuColour.FromHex(message.Sender.Colour);
+                            }
+
+                            t.TextSize = text_size;
+                        })
                         {
                             AutoSizeAxes = Axes.Y,
                             RelativeSizeAxes = Axes.X,
@@ -195,30 +210,26 @@ namespace osu.Game.Overlays.Chat
                     }
                 }
             };
-            if (message.IsAction && senderHasBackground)
-                contentFlow.Colour = OsuColour.FromHex(message.Sender.Colour);
 
             updateMessageContent();
             FinishTransforms(true);
         }
 
+        private ChatOverlay chat;
+
         private void updateMessageContent()
         {
             this.FadeTo(message is LocalEchoMessage ? 0.4f : 1.0f, 500, Easing.OutQuint);
             timestamp.FadeTo(message is LocalEchoMessage ? 0 : 1, 500, Easing.OutQuint);
 
             timestamp.Text = $@"{message.Timestamp.LocalDateTime:HH:mm:ss}";
-            username.Text = $@"{message.Sender.Username}" + (senderHasBackground ? "" : ":");
+            username.Text = $@"{message.Sender.Username}" + (senderHasBackground || message.IsAction ? "" : ":");
 
-            if (message.IsAction)
-            {
-                contentFlow.Clear();
-                contentFlow.AddText("[", sprite => sprite.Padding = new MarginPadding { Right = action_padding });
-                contentFlow.AddText(message.Content, sprite => sprite.Font = @"Exo2.0-MediumItalic");
-                contentFlow.AddText("]", sprite => sprite.Padding = new MarginPadding { Left = action_padding });
-            }
-            else
-                contentFlow.Text = message.Content;
+            // remove non-existent channels from the link list
+            message.Links.RemoveAll(link => link.Action == LinkAction.OpenChannel && chat?.AvailableChannels.Any(c => c.Name == link.Argument) != true);
+
+            contentFlow.Clear();
+            contentFlow.AddLinks(message.DisplayContent, message.Links);
         }
 
         private class MessageSender : OsuClickableContainer, IHasContextMenu
diff --git a/osu.Game/Overlays/ChatOverlay.cs b/osu.Game/Overlays/ChatOverlay.cs
index 15c373356f..beb2b3b746 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Overlays/ChatOverlay.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Overlays/ChatOverlay.cs
@@ -60,6 +60,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Overlays
 
         public Bindable<double> ChatHeight { get; set; }
 
+        public List<Channel> AvailableChannels { get; private set; } = new List<Channel>();
         private readonly Container channelSelectionContainer;
         private readonly ChannelSelectionOverlay channelSelection;
 
@@ -190,6 +191,8 @@ namespace osu.Game.Overlays
         private double startDragChatHeight;
         private bool isDragging;
 
+        public void OpenChannel(Channel channel) => addChannel(channel);
+
         protected override bool OnDragStart(InputState state)
         {
             isDragging = tabsArea.IsHovered;
@@ -298,6 +301,8 @@ namespace osu.Game.Overlays
             ListChannelsRequest req = new ListChannelsRequest();
             req.Success += delegate (List<Channel> channels)
             {
+                AvailableChannels = channels;
+
                 Scheduler.Add(delegate
                 {
                     addChannel(channels.Find(c => c.Name == @"#lazer"));
diff --git a/osu.Game/Overlays/Profile/ProfileHeader.cs b/osu.Game/Overlays/Profile/ProfileHeader.cs
index 924b5d6c9d..937b4efcad 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Overlays/Profile/ProfileHeader.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Overlays/Profile/ProfileHeader.cs
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 // Licensed under the MIT Licence - https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ppy/osu/master/LICENCE
 
 using System;
+using System.Diagnostics;
 using OpenTK;
 using OpenTK.Graphics;
 using osu.Framework.Allocation;
@@ -9,6 +10,7 @@ using osu.Framework.Extensions.Color4Extensions;
 using osu.Framework.Graphics;
 using osu.Framework.Graphics.Colour;
 using osu.Framework.Graphics.Containers;
+using osu.Framework.Graphics.Cursor;
 using osu.Framework.Graphics.Shapes;
 using osu.Framework.Graphics.Sprites;
 using osu.Framework.Graphics.Textures;
@@ -16,9 +18,6 @@ using osu.Game.Graphics;
 using osu.Game.Graphics.Containers;
 using osu.Game.Graphics.Sprites;
 using osu.Game.Users;
-using System.Diagnostics;
-using System.Collections.Generic;
-using osu.Framework.Graphics.Cursor;
 
 namespace osu.Game.Overlays.Profile
 {
@@ -103,7 +102,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Overlays.Profile
                                             Y = -75,
                                             Size = new Vector2(25, 25)
                                         },
-                                        new LinkFlowContainer.ProfileLink(user)
+                                        new ProfileLink(user)
                                         {
                                             Anchor = Anchor.BottomLeft,
                                             Origin = Anchor.BottomLeft,
@@ -329,12 +328,14 @@ namespace osu.Game.Overlays.Profile
             {
                 infoTextLeft.AddText($"{user.Age} years old ", boldItalic);
             }
+
             if (user.Country != null)
             {
                 infoTextLeft.AddText("from ");
                 infoTextLeft.AddText(user.Country.FullName, boldItalic);
                 countryFlag.Country = user.Country;
             }
+
             infoTextLeft.NewParagraph();
 
             if (user.JoinDate.ToUniversalTime().Year < 2008)
@@ -346,6 +347,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Overlays.Profile
                 infoTextLeft.AddText("Joined ");
                 infoTextLeft.AddText(user.JoinDate.LocalDateTime.ToShortDateString(), boldItalic);
             }
+
             infoTextLeft.NewLine();
             infoTextLeft.AddText("Last seen ");
             infoTextLeft.AddText(user.LastVisit.LocalDateTime.ToShortDateString(), boldItalic);
@@ -434,6 +436,28 @@ namespace osu.Game.Overlays.Profile
             infoTextRight.NewLine();
         }
 
+        private class ProfileLink : OsuHoverContainer, IHasTooltip
+        {
+            public string TooltipText => "View Profile in Browser";
+
+            public override bool HandleMouseInput => true;
+
+            public ProfileLink(User user)
+            {
+                Action = () => Process.Start($@"https://osu.ppy.sh/users/{user.Id}");
+
+                AutoSizeAxes = Axes.Both;
+
+                Child = new OsuSpriteText
+                {
+                    Text = user.Username,
+                    Font = @"Exo2.0-RegularItalic",
+                    TextSize = 30,
+                };
+            }
+        }
+
+
         private class GradeBadge : Container
         {
             private const float width = 50;
@@ -471,61 +495,5 @@ namespace osu.Game.Overlays.Profile
                 badge.Texture = textures.Get($"Grades/{grade}");
             }
         }
-
-        private class LinkFlowContainer : OsuTextFlowContainer
-        {
-            public override bool HandleKeyboardInput => true;
-            public override bool HandleMouseInput => true;
-
-            public LinkFlowContainer(Action<SpriteText> defaultCreationParameters = null) : base(defaultCreationParameters)
-            {
-            }
-
-            protected override SpriteText CreateSpriteText() => new LinkText();
-
-            public void AddLink(string text, string url) => AddText(text, link => ((LinkText)link).Url = url);
-
-            public class LinkText : OsuSpriteText
-            {
-                private readonly OsuHoverContainer content;
-
-                public override bool HandleKeyboardInput => content.Action != null;
-                public override bool HandleMouseInput => content.Action != null;
-
-                protected override Container<Drawable> Content => content ?? (Container<Drawable>)this;
-
-                protected override IEnumerable<Drawable> FlowingChildren => Children;
-
-                public string Url
-                {
-                    set
-                    {
-                        if (value != null)
-                            content.Action = () => Process.Start(value);
-                    }
-                }
-
-                public LinkText()
-                {
-                    AddInternal(content = new OsuHoverContainer
-                    {
-                        AutoSizeAxes = Axes.Both,
-                    });
-                }
-            }
-
-            public class ProfileLink : LinkText, IHasTooltip
-            {
-                public string TooltipText => "View Profile in Browser";
-
-                public ProfileLink(User user)
-                {
-                    Text = user.Username;
-                    Url = $@"https://osu.ppy.sh/users/{user.Id}";
-                    Font = @"Exo2.0-RegularItalic";
-                    TextSize = 30;
-                }
-            }
-        }
     }
 }
diff --git a/osu.Game/Rulesets/UI/RulesetContainer.cs b/osu.Game/Rulesets/UI/RulesetContainer.cs
index 8f72644b28..231250e858 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Rulesets/UI/RulesetContainer.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Rulesets/UI/RulesetContainer.cs
@@ -240,13 +240,13 @@ namespace osu.Game.Rulesets.UI
             foreach (var mod in Mods.OfType<IApplicableToDifficulty>())
                 mod.ApplyToDifficulty(Beatmap.BeatmapInfo.BaseDifficulty);
 
+            // Post-process the beatmap
+            processor.PostProcess(Beatmap);
+
             // Apply defaults
             foreach (var h in Beatmap.HitObjects)
                 h.ApplyDefaults(Beatmap.ControlPointInfo, Beatmap.BeatmapInfo.BaseDifficulty);
 
-            // Post-process the beatmap
-            processor.PostProcess(Beatmap);
-
             KeyBindingInputManager = CreateInputManager();
             KeyBindingInputManager.RelativeSizeAxes = Axes.Both;
 
diff --git a/osu.Game/Rulesets/UI/RulesetInputManager.cs b/osu.Game/Rulesets/UI/RulesetInputManager.cs
index 6e06ca6903..037f9136a8 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Rulesets/UI/RulesetInputManager.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Rulesets/UI/RulesetInputManager.cs
@@ -136,9 +136,20 @@ namespace osu.Game.Rulesets.UI
             int loops = 0;
 
             while (validState && requireMoreUpdateLoops && loops++ < max_catch_up_updates_per_frame)
+            {
                 if (!base.UpdateSubTree())
                     return false;
 
+                if (isAttached)
+                {
+                    // When handling replay input, we need to consider the possibility of fast-forwarding, which may cause the clock to be updated
+                    // to a point very far into the future, then playing a frame at that time. In such a case, lifetime MUST be updated before
+                    // input is handled. This is why base.Update is not called from the derived Update when handling replay input, and is instead
+                    // called manually at the correct time here.
+                    base.Update();
+                }
+            }
+
             return true;
         }
 
@@ -173,8 +184,11 @@ namespace osu.Game.Rulesets.UI
             // to ensure that the its time is valid for our children before input is processed
             Clock.ProcessFrame();
 
-            // Process input
-            base.Update();
+            if (!isAttached)
+            {
+                // For non-replay input handling, this provides equivalent input ordering as if Update was not overridden
+                base.Update();
+            }
         }
 
         #endregion
diff --git a/osu.Game/osu.Game.csproj b/osu.Game/osu.Game.csproj
index 4e048d60b9..f937497fa0 100644
--- a/osu.Game/osu.Game.csproj
+++ b/osu.Game/osu.Game.csproj
@@ -275,11 +275,14 @@
     <Compile Include="Configuration\SpeedChangeVisualisationMethod.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Database\DatabaseContextFactory.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Database\IHasPrimaryKey.cs" />
+    <Compile Include="Graphics\Containers\LinkFlowContainer.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Graphics\Textures\LargeTextureStore.cs" />
+    <Compile Include="Online\API\Requests\GetUserRequest.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Migrations\20180125143340_Settings.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Migrations\20180125143340_Settings.Designer.cs">
       <DependentUpon>20180125143340_Settings.cs</DependentUpon>
     </Compile>
+    <Compile Include="Migrations\20180131154205_AddMuteBinding.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Overlays\Profile\SupporterIcon.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Online\API\Requests\GetFriendsRequest.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Overlays\Settings\DangerousSettingsButton.cs" />
@@ -305,6 +308,8 @@
     </Compile>
     <Compile Include="Migrations\OsuDbContextModelSnapshot.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Online\API\Requests\GetBeatmapSetRequest.cs" />
+    <Compile Include="Online\Chat\DrawableLinkCompiler.cs" />
+    <Compile Include="Online\Chat\MessageFormatter.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Online\API\Requests\APIResponseBeatmapSet.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Online\API\Requests\GetUserMostPlayedBeatmapsRequest.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Overlays\BeatmapSet\Scores\ClickableUsername.cs" />
@@ -470,7 +475,6 @@
     <Compile Include="Online\API\Requests\SearchBeatmapSetsRequest.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Online\API\Requests\GetMessagesRequest.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Online\API\Requests\GetScoresRequest.cs" />
-    <Compile Include="Online\API\Requests\GetUserRequest.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Online\API\Requests\GetUsersRequest.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Online\API\Requests\ListChannelsRequest.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Online\API\Requests\PostMessageRequest.cs" />