iWorld
Join global fandom for exclusive ‘The Hunger Games’ updates
Mumbai: Guess what?! The games are back and this time, you get a front-row ticket! Lionsgate is rolling out the red carpet for you to dive into the captivating universe of The Ballad Of Songbirds and Snakes. Join a global community in preparing for an outworldly experience that will leave you wanting more, from the very beginning. With a few simple steps, fans, new and old can join in and sign up to receive exclusive and exciting updates on the upcoming action-packed prequel, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, releasing almost 11 years after the first film. So, grab your bow and arrow, and awaken your inner Lucy because the districts are calling. With the franchise returning after an eight-year hiatus, don’t miss a single update as Lionsgate prepares to whisk you away into the mesmerising world of The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. May the odds be ever in your favor.
Sign up for an enthralling experience with a few simple steps-
Step one: Message the Ballad global number to be inducted into the Hunger Games family.
Step two: Fill in your details to join the community.
Step three: Enjoy exciting and exclusive updates from now until the films release.
From exclusive news, communication, cast, and crew specials, etc – we love our fans and this is our way of keeping them engaged. The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is coming soon!
Stay up-to-date on the return of the infamous games with a community like no other.
iWorld
X launches XChat messaging app on iOS with calls and encryption
Standalone app marks shift from “everything app” vision, adds E2E messaging.
MUMBAI: From one big app to many small chats, X seems to be splitting its ambitions. X has rolled out its standalone messaging app, XChat, to iOS users, opening up a new front in its evolving product strategy. The app allows users to connect with existing X contacts through private and group messages, file sharing, as well as audio and video calls. The launch follows a limited beta phase, where the platform tested the product with a smaller user base to refine the experience. Now available publicly, XChat marks a notable pivot from earlier ambitions championed by Elon Musk to turn X into a single “everything app” combining messaging, payments, commerce and more.
Instead, the company under xAI ownership and backed by SpaceX appears to be building a suite of standalone applications, each targeting specific use cases while expanding its broader ecosystem.
At launch, XChat includes end-to-end encrypted messaging, PIN-based access, disappearing messages, and features such as message editing, deletion for all participants, and screenshot blocking. The company has also said the app is free from advertisements and tracking mechanisms, positioning it as a privacy-first alternative in a crowded messaging space.
However, security claims around the platform are likely to face scrutiny. Earlier iterations of XChat drew criticism from experts who argued it fell short of established encrypted platforms like Signal. With the wider rollout, the app is expected to undergo fresh evaluation to assess whether those concerns have been addressed.
Beyond messaging, XChat will also house X’s Communities feature, which is being discontinued on the main platform due to low usage and spam concerns. Migrating these users could provide an early boost to adoption, effectively turning XChat into both a communication and community hub.
The move underscores a broader recalibration at X less about cramming everything into one app, and more about spreading bets across multiple touchpoints, one message at a time.
