diff --git a/osu.Game.Tests/Visual/TestCaseChatLink.cs b/osu.Game.Tests/Visual/TestCaseChatLink.cs
index 1ad297d1f9..9f8c3ce146 100644
--- a/osu.Game.Tests/Visual/TestCaseChatLink.cs
+++ b/osu.Game.Tests/Visual/TestCaseChatLink.cs
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ using osu.Framework.Allocation;
 using osu.Framework.Graphics;
 using osu.Framework.Graphics.Colour;
 using osu.Framework.Graphics.Containers;
+using osu.Game.Graphics;
 using osu.Game.Graphics.Containers;
 using osu.Game.Online.Chat;
 using osu.Game.Overlays;
@@ -47,19 +48,32 @@ namespace osu.Game.Tests.Visual
 
         private void clear() => AddStep("clear messages", textContainer.Clear);
 
-        private void addMessageWithChecks(string text, int linkAmount = 0, bool isAction = false)
+        private void addMessageWithChecks(string text, int linkAmount = 0, bool isAction = false, bool isImportant = false)
         {
-            var newLine = new ChatLine(new DummyMessage(text, isAction));
+            var newLine = new ChatLine(new DummyMessage(text, isAction, isImportant));
             textContainer.Add(newLine);
 
             AddAssert($"msg #{textContainer.Count} has {linkAmount} link(s)", () => newLine.Message.Links.Count == linkAmount);
             AddAssert($"msg #{textContainer.Count} is " + (isAction ? "italic" : "not italic"), () => newLine.ContentFlow.Any() && isAction == isItalic(newLine.ContentFlow));
-            AddAssert($"msg #{textContainer.Count} shows link(s)", () => isShowingLinks(newLine.ContentFlow));
+            AddAssert($"msg #{textContainer.Count} shows link(s)", isShowingLinks);
 
-            bool isItalic(OsuTextFlowContainer c) => c.Cast<ChatLink>().All(sprite => sprite.Font == @"Exo2.0-MediumItalic");
+            bool isItalic(ChatFlowContainer c) => c.Cast<ChatLink>().All(sprite => sprite.Font == @"Exo2.0-MediumItalic");
 
-            bool isShowingLinks(OsuTextFlowContainer c) => c.Cast<ChatLink>().All(sprite => sprite.HandleInput && !sprite.TextColour.Equals((SRGBColour)Color4.White)
-                                                                                        || !sprite.HandleInput && sprite.TextColour.Equals((SRGBColour)Color4.White));
+            bool isShowingLinks()
+            {
+                SRGBColour textColour = Color4.White;
+                bool hasBackground = !string.IsNullOrEmpty(newLine.Message.Sender.Colour);
+
+                if (isAction && hasBackground)
+                    textColour = OsuColour.FromHex(newLine.Message.Sender.Colour);
+
+                return newLine.ContentFlow
+                    .Cast<ChatLink>()
+                    .All(sprite => sprite.HandleInput && !sprite.TextColour.Equals(textColour)
+                                || !sprite.HandleInput && sprite.TextColour.Equals(textColour)
+                                // if someone with a background uses /me with a link, the usual link colour is overridden
+                                || isAction && hasBackground && sprite.HandleInput && !sprite.TextColour.Equals((ColourInfo)Color4.White));
+            }
         }
 
         private void testLinksGeneral()
@@ -77,6 +91,9 @@ namespace osu.Game.Tests.Visual
             addMessageWithChecks("Let's (try)[https://osu.ppy.sh/home] [https://osu.ppy.sh/home multiple links] https://osu.ppy.sh/home", 3);
             // 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);
         }
 
         private void testAddingLinks()
@@ -132,37 +149,27 @@ namespace osu.Game.Tests.Visual
         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,
-                Country = new Country { FullName = @"Alien" },
-                CoverUrl = @"https://osu.ppy.sh/images/headers/profile-covers/c1.jpg",
-                JoinDate = DateTimeOffset.Now.AddDays(-1),
-                LastVisit = DateTimeOffset.Now,
-                Age = 1,
-                ProfileOrder = new[] { "me" },
-                CountryRank = 1,
-                Statistics = new UserStatistics
-                {
-                    Rank = 2148,
-                    PP = 4567.89m
-                },
-                RankHistory = new User.RankHistoryData
-                {
-                    Mode = @"osu",
-                    Data = Enumerable.Range(2345, 45).Concat(Enumerable.Range(2109, 40)).ToArray(),
-                }
             };
 
             public new DateTimeOffset Timestamp = DateTimeOffset.Now;
 
-            public DummyMessage(string text, bool isAction = false)
+            public DummyMessage(string text, bool isAction = false, bool isImportant = false)
                 : base(messageCounter++)
             {
                 Content = text;
                 IsAction = isAction;
-                Sender = TEST_SENDER;
+                Sender = isImportant ? TEST_SENDER_BACKGROUND : TEST_SENDER;
             }
         }
 
diff --git a/osu.Game/Graphics/Containers/ChatFlowContainer.cs b/osu.Game/Graphics/Containers/ChatFlowContainer.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..6fd06aef7c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/osu.Game/Graphics/Containers/ChatFlowContainer.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,61 @@
+// Copyright (c) 2007-2017 ppy Pty Ltd <contact@ppy.sh>.
+// Licensed under the MIT Licence - https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ppy/osu/master/LICENCE
+
+using osu.Framework.Allocation;
+using osu.Framework.Graphics.Colour;
+using osu.Game.Online.Chat;
+using System;
+
+namespace osu.Game.Graphics.Containers
+{
+    public class ChatFlowContainer : OsuTextFlowContainer
+    {
+        private readonly Action<ChatLink> defaultCreationParameters;
+        private ColourInfo urlColour;
+
+        public ChatFlowContainer(Action<ChatLink> defaultCreationParameters = null)
+        {
+            this.defaultCreationParameters = defaultCreationParameters;
+        }
+
+        public override bool HandleInput => true;
+
+        public void AddLink(string text, string url, LinkAction linkType, string linkArgument)
+        {
+            var chatSprite = new ChatLink
+            {
+                Text = text,
+                Url = url,
+                TextColour = urlColour,
+                LinkAction = linkType,
+                LinkArgument = linkArgument,
+            };
+
+            defaultCreationParameters?.Invoke(chatSprite);
+
+            AddInternal(chatSprite);
+        }
+
+        public void AddText(string text, Action<ChatLink> creationParameters = null)
+        {
+            foreach (var word in SplitWords(text))
+            {
+                if (string.IsNullOrEmpty(word))
+                    continue;
+
+                var chatSprite = new ChatLink { Text = word };
+
+                defaultCreationParameters?.Invoke(chatSprite);
+                creationParameters?.Invoke(chatSprite);
+
+                AddInternal(chatSprite);
+            }
+        }
+
+        [BackgroundDependencyLoader]
+        private void load(OsuColour colours)
+        {
+            urlColour = colours.Blue;
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/osu.Game/Graphics/Containers/OsuLinkFlowContainer.cs b/osu.Game/Graphics/Containers/OsuLinkFlowContainer.cs
deleted file mode 100644
index 48910a04ca..0000000000
--- a/osu.Game/Graphics/Containers/OsuLinkFlowContainer.cs
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,59 +0,0 @@
-// Copyright (c) 2007-2017 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.Graphics.Colour;
-using osu.Framework.Graphics.Sprites;
-using osu.Game.Graphics.Sprites;
-using System;
-using System.Collections.Generic;
-
-namespace osu.Game.Graphics.Containers
-{
-    public class OsuLinkFlowContainer : OsuLinkFlowContainer<OsuSpriteLink>
-    {
-        public OsuLinkFlowContainer(Action<SpriteText> defaultCreationParameters = null)
-            : base(defaultCreationParameters)
-        {
-        }
-    }
-
-    public class OsuLinkFlowContainer<T> : OsuTextFlowContainer
-        where T : OsuSpriteLink, new()
-    {
-        public override bool HandleInput => true;
-
-        public OsuLinkFlowContainer(Action<SpriteText> defaultCreationParameters = null)
-            : base(defaultCreationParameters)
-        {
-        }
-
-        protected override SpriteText CreateSpriteText() => new T();
-
-        /// <summary>
-        /// The colour for text (links override this). Will only be used for new text elements.
-        /// </summary>
-        public ColourInfo TextColour = Color4.White;
-
-        public IEnumerable<SpriteText> AddLink(string text, string url, Action<SpriteText> creationParameters = null)
-        {
-            // TODO: Remove this and get word wrapping working
-            text = text.Replace(' ', '_');
-
-            return AddText(text, link =>
-            {
-                ((OsuSpriteLink)link).Url = url;
-                creationParameters?.Invoke(link);
-            });
-        }
-
-        public new IEnumerable<SpriteText> AddText(string text, Action<SpriteText> creationParameters = null)
-        {
-            return base.AddText(text, sprite =>
-            {
-                ((OsuSpriteLink)sprite).TextColour = TextColour;
-                creationParameters?.Invoke(sprite);
-            });
-        }
-    }
-}
diff --git a/osu.Game/Graphics/Sprites/OsuSpriteLink.cs b/osu.Game/Graphics/Sprites/OsuSpriteLink.cs
index 1c2a219b53..9fc24651db 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Graphics/Sprites/OsuSpriteLink.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Graphics/Sprites/OsuSpriteLink.cs
@@ -12,6 +12,8 @@ namespace osu.Game.Graphics.Sprites
 {
     public class OsuSpriteLink : OsuSpriteText
     {
+        public override bool HandleInput => !string.IsNullOrEmpty(Url);
+
         protected override IEnumerable<Drawable> FlowingChildren => Children;
 
         protected override Container<Drawable> Content => content;
diff --git a/osu.Game/Online/API/Requests/GetBeatmapRequest.cs b/osu.Game/Online/API/Requests/GetBeatmapRequest.cs
deleted file mode 100644
index 76d67e7afc..0000000000
--- a/osu.Game/Online/API/Requests/GetBeatmapRequest.cs
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,19 +0,0 @@
-// Copyright (c) 2007-2017 ppy Pty Ltd <contact@ppy.sh>.
-// Licensed under the MIT Licence - https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ppy/osu/master/LICENCE
-
-using osu.Game.Beatmaps;
-
-namespace osu.Game.Online.API.Requests
-{
-    public class GetBeatmapRequest : APIRequest<BeatmapInfo>
-    {
-        private readonly int beatmapId;
-
-        public GetBeatmapRequest(int beatmapId)
-        {
-            this.beatmapId = beatmapId;
-        }
-
-        protected override string Target => $@"beatmaps/{beatmapId}";
-    }
-}
diff --git a/osu.Game/Online/Chat/ChatLink.cs b/osu.Game/Online/Chat/ChatLink.cs
index aa5a0e100b..f38eade682 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Online/Chat/ChatLink.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Online/Chat/ChatLink.cs
@@ -4,123 +4,57 @@
 using osu.Framework.Allocation;
 using osu.Framework.Graphics.Cursor;
 using osu.Game.Graphics.Sprites;
-using osu.Game.Online.API;
-using osu.Game.Online.API.Requests;
 using osu.Game.Overlays;
 using System;
-using System.Text.RegularExpressions;
 
 namespace osu.Game.Online.Chat
 {
     public class ChatLink : OsuSpriteLink, IHasTooltip
     {
-        private APIAccess api;
         private BeatmapSetOverlay beatmapSetOverlay;
         private ChatOverlay chat;
+        private OsuGame game;
 
-        public override bool HandleInput => !string.IsNullOrEmpty(Url);
+        /// <summary>
+        /// The type of action executed on clicking this link.
+        /// </summary>
+        public LinkAction LinkAction { get; set; }
 
-        // 'protocol' -> 'https', 'http', 'osu', 'osump' etc.
-        // 'content' -> everything after '<protocol>://'
-        private Match getUrlMatch() => Regex.Match(Url, @"^(?<protocol>osu(?:mp)?|https?):\/\/(?<content>.*)");
+        /// <summary>
+        /// The argument necessary for the action specified by <see cref="LinkAction"/> to execute.
+        /// <para>Usually a part of the URL.</para>
+        /// </summary>
+        public string LinkArgument { get; set; }
 
         protected override void OnLinkClicked()
         {
-            var urlMatch = getUrlMatch();
-            if (urlMatch.Success)
+            switch (LinkAction)
             {
-                var args = urlMatch.Groups["content"].Value.Split('/');
-
-                switch (urlMatch.Groups["protocol"].Value)
-                {
-                    case "osu":
-                        if (args.Length == 1)
-                        {
-                            base.OnLinkClicked();
-                            break;
-                        }
-
-                        switch (args[0])
-                        {
-                            case "chan":
-                                var foundChannel = chat.AvailableChannels.Find(channel => channel.Name == args[1]);
-
-                                // links should be filtered out by now if a channel doesn't exist
-                                chat.OpenChannel(foundChannel ?? throw new ArgumentException($"Unknown channel name ({args[1]})."));
-                                break;
-                            case "edit":
-                                chat.Game?.LoadEditorTimestamp();
-                                break;
-                            case "b":
-                                if (args.Length > 1 && int.TryParse(args[1], out int mapId))
-                                    beatmapSetOverlay.ShowBeatmap(mapId);
-
-                                break;
-                            case "s":
-                            case "dl":
-                                if (args.Length > 1 && int.TryParse(args[1], out int mapSetId))
-                                    beatmapSetOverlay.ShowBeatmapSet(mapSetId);
-
-                                break;
-                            case "spectate":
-                                GetUserRequest req;
-                                if (int.TryParse(args[1], out int userId))
-                                    req = new GetUserRequest(userId);
-                                else
-                                    return;
-
-                                req.Success += user =>
-                                {
-                                    chat.Game?.LoadSpectatorScreen();
-                                };
-                                api.Queue(req);
-
-                                break;
-                            default:
-                                throw new ArgumentException($"Unknown osu:// link at {nameof(ChatLink)} ({urlMatch.Groups["content"].Value}).");
-                        }
-
-                        break;
-                    case "osump":
-                        if (args.Length > 1 && int.TryParse(args[1], out int multiId))
-                            chat.Game?.LoadMultiplayerLobby(multiId);
-
-                        break;
-                    case "http":
-                    case "https":
-                        if (args[0] == "osu.ppy.sh" && args.Length > 2)
-                        {
-                            switch (args[1])
-                            {
-                                case "b":
-                                case "beatmaps":
-                                    beatmapSetOverlay.ShowBeatmap(getId(args[2]));
-                                    break;
-                                case "s":
-                                case "beatmapsets":
-                                case "d":
-                                    beatmapSetOverlay.ShowBeatmapSet(getId(args[2]));
-                                    break;
-                                default:
-                                    base.OnLinkClicked();
-                                    break;
-                            }
-                        }
-                        else
-                            base.OnLinkClicked();
-                        break;
-                    default:
-                        base.OnLinkClicked();
-                        break;
-                }
-            }
-            else
-                base.OnLinkClicked();
-
-            int getId(string input)
-            {
-                var index = input.IndexOf('#');
-                return int.Parse(index > 0 ? input.Remove(index) : input);
+                case LinkAction.OpenBeatmap:
+                    // todo: implement this when overlay.ShowBeatmap(id) exists
+                    break;
+                case LinkAction.OpenBeatmapSet:
+                    if (int.TryParse(LinkArgument, out int setId))
+                        beatmapSetOverlay.ShowBeatmapSet(setId);
+                    break;
+                case LinkAction.OpenChannel:
+                    chat.OpenChannel(chat.AvailableChannels.Find(c => c.Name == LinkArgument));
+                    break;
+                case LinkAction.OpenEditorTimestamp:
+                    game?.LoadEditorTimestamp();
+                    break;
+                case LinkAction.JoinMultiplayerMatch:
+                    if (int.TryParse(LinkArgument, out int matchId))
+                        game?.JoinMultiplayerMatch(matchId);
+                    break;
+                case LinkAction.Spectate:
+                    // todo: implement this when spectating exists
+                    break;
+                case LinkAction.External:
+                    base.OnLinkClicked();
+                    break;
+                default:
+                    throw new NotImplementedException($"This {nameof(Chat.LinkAction)} ({LinkAction.ToString()}) is missing an associated action.");
             }
         }
 
@@ -131,30 +65,25 @@ namespace osu.Game.Online.Chat
                 if (Url == Text)
                     return null;
 
-                var urlMatch = getUrlMatch();
-                if (urlMatch.Success && urlMatch.Groups["protocol"].Value == "osu")
+                switch (LinkAction)
                 {
-                    var args = urlMatch.Groups["content"].Value.Split('/');
-
-                    if (args.Length < 2)
+                    case LinkAction.OpenChannel:
+                        return "Switch to channel " + LinkArgument;
+                    case LinkAction.OpenEditorTimestamp:
+                        return "Go to " + LinkArgument;
+                    default:
                         return Url;
-
-                    if (args[0] == "chan")
-                        return "Switch to channel " + args[1];
-                    if (args[0] == "edit")
-                        return "Go to " + args[1];
                 }
-
-                return Url;
             }
         }
 
-        [BackgroundDependencyLoader]
-        private void load(APIAccess api, BeatmapSetOverlay beatmapSetOverlay, ChatOverlay chat)
+        [BackgroundDependencyLoader(true)]
+        private void load(BeatmapSetOverlay beatmapSetOverlay, ChatOverlay chat, OsuGame game)
         {
-            this.api = api;
             this.beatmapSetOverlay = beatmapSetOverlay;
             this.chat = chat;
+            // this will be null in tests
+            this.game = game;
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/osu.Game/Online/Chat/Message.cs b/osu.Game/Online/Chat/Message.cs
index ac14d3a88f..cda55ad269 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Online/Chat/Message.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Online/Chat/Message.cs
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Online.Chat
         {
         }
 
-        public List<MessageFormatter.Link> Links;
+        public List<Link> Links;
 
         public Message(long? id)
         {
diff --git a/osu.Game/Online/Chat/MessageFormatter.cs b/osu.Game/Online/Chat/MessageFormatter.cs
index 81551b08f4..eadab8840f 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Online/Chat/MessageFormatter.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Online/Chat/MessageFormatter.cs
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Online.Chat
         // 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)
+        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))
@@ -66,7 +66,8 @@ namespace osu.Game.Online.Chat
                     //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);
 
-                    result.Links.Add(new Link(linkText, index, displayText.Length));
+                    var details = getLinkDetails(link);
+                    result.Links.Add(new Link(linkText, index, displayText.Length, linkActionOverride ?? details.linkType, details.linkArgument));
 
                     //adjust the offset for processing the current matches group.
                     captureOffset += m.Length - displayText.Length;
@@ -93,7 +94,70 @@ namespace osu.Game.Online.Chat
                     }
                 }
 
-                result.Links.Add(new Link(link, index, indexLength));
+                var details = getLinkDetails(link);
+                result.Links.Add(new Link(link, index, indexLength, details.linkType, details.linkArgument));
+            }
+        }
+
+        private static (LinkAction linkType, string linkArgument) 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 (LinkAction.OpenBeatmap, args[3]);
+                            case "s":
+                            case "beatmapsets":
+                            case "d":
+                                return (LinkAction.External, args[3]);
+                        }
+                    }
+
+                    return (LinkAction.External, null);
+                case "osu":
+                    // every internal link also needs some kind of argument
+                    if (args.Length < 3)
+                        return (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 (linkType, args[2]);
+                case "osump":
+                    return (LinkAction.JoinMultiplayerMatch, args[1]);
+                default:
+                    return (LinkAction.External, null);
             }
         }
 
@@ -114,10 +178,10 @@ namespace osu.Game.Online.Chat
             handleAdvanced(advanced_link_regex, result, startIndex);
 
             // handle editor times
-            handleMatches(time_regex, "{0}", "osu://edit/{0}", result, startIndex);
+            handleMatches(time_regex, "{0}", "osu://edit/{0}", result, startIndex, LinkAction.OpenEditorTimestamp);
 
             // handle channels
-            handleMatches(channel_regex, "{0}", "osu://chan/{0}", result, startIndex);
+            handleMatches(channel_regex, "{0}", "osu://chan/{0}", result, startIndex, LinkAction.OpenChannel);
 
             var empty = "";
             while (space-- > 0)
@@ -151,21 +215,36 @@ namespace osu.Game.Online.Chat
                 OriginalText = Text = text;
             }
         }
+    }
 
-        public class Link : IComparable<Link>
+    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)
         {
-            public string Url;
-            public int Index;
-            public int Length;
-
-            public Link(string url, int startIndex, int length)
-            {
-                Url = url;
-                Index = startIndex;
-                Length = length;
-            }
-
-            public int CompareTo(Link otherLink) => Index > otherLink.Index ? 1 : -1;
+            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 66d2347f47..5c26e3acab 100644
--- a/osu.Game/OsuGame.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/OsuGame.cs
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@ namespace osu.Game
             });
         }
 
-        internal void LoadMultiplayerLobby(int lobbyId)
+        internal void JoinMultiplayerMatch(int matchId)
         {
             notifications.Post(new SimpleNotification
             {
diff --git a/osu.Game/Overlays/BeatmapSetOverlay.cs b/osu.Game/Overlays/BeatmapSetOverlay.cs
index 1481523bc9..0a88f586b5 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Overlays/BeatmapSetOverlay.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Overlays/BeatmapSetOverlay.cs
@@ -139,20 +139,6 @@ namespace osu.Game.Overlays
             return true;
         }
 
-        public void ShowBeatmap(int beatmapId)
-        {
-            var req = new GetBeatmapRequest(beatmapId);
-            req.Success += res =>
-            {
-                if (!res.OnlineBeatmapSetID.HasValue)
-                    return;
-
-                ShowBeatmapSet(res.OnlineBeatmapSetID.Value);
-            };
-
-            api.Queue(req);
-        }
-
         public void ShowBeatmapSet(int beatmapSetId)
         {
             // todo: display the overlay while we are loading here. we need to support setting BeatmapSet to null for this to work.
diff --git a/osu.Game/Overlays/Chat/ChatLine.cs b/osu.Game/Overlays/Chat/ChatLine.cs
index ebfdadd553..8d2c1895bb 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Overlays/Chat/ChatLine.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Overlays/Chat/ChatLine.cs
@@ -83,13 +83,13 @@ namespace osu.Game.Overlays.Chat
 
         private Message message;
         private OsuSpriteText username;
-        private OsuLinkFlowContainer<ChatLink> contentFlow;
+        private ChatFlowContainer contentFlow;
 
-        public OsuTextFlowContainer ContentFlow => contentFlow;
+        public ChatFlowContainer ContentFlow => contentFlow;
 
         public Message Message
         {
-            get { return message; }
+            get => message;
             set
             {
                 if (message == value) return;
@@ -107,7 +107,6 @@ namespace osu.Game.Overlays.Chat
         private void load(OsuColour colours, ChatOverlay chat)
         {
             this.chat = chat;
-            urlColour = colours.Blue;
             customUsernameColour = colours.ChatBlue;
         }
 
@@ -192,10 +191,16 @@ namespace osu.Game.Overlays.Chat
                     Padding = new MarginPadding { Left = message_padding + padding },
                     Children = new Drawable[]
                     {
-                        contentFlow = new OsuLinkFlowContainer<ChatLink>(t =>
+                        contentFlow = new ChatFlowContainer(t =>
                         {
                             if (Message.IsAction)
+                            {
                                 t.Font = @"Exo2.0-MediumItalic";
+
+                                if (senderHasBackground)
+                                    t.TextColour = OsuColour.FromHex(message.Sender.Colour);
+                            }
+
                             t.TextSize = text_size;
                         })
                         {
@@ -205,15 +210,12 @@ namespace osu.Game.Overlays.Chat
                     }
                 }
             };
-            if (message.IsAction && senderHasBackground)
-                contentFlow.TextColour = OsuColour.FromHex(message.Sender.Colour);
 
             updateMessageContent();
             FinishTransforms(true);
         }
 
         private ChatOverlay chat;
-        private Color4 urlColour;
 
         private void updateMessageContent()
         {
@@ -230,7 +232,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Overlays.Chat
             else
             {
                 int lastLinkEndIndex = 0;
-                List<MessageFormatter.Link> linksToRemove = new List<MessageFormatter.Link>();
+                List<Link> linksToRemove = new List<Link>();
 
                 foreach (var link in message.Links)
                 {
@@ -250,10 +252,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Overlays.Chat
                         }
                     }
 
-                    contentFlow.AddLink(message.Content.Substring(link.Index, link.Length), link.Url, sprite =>
-                    {
-                        ((ChatLink)sprite).TextColour = urlColour;
-                    });
+                    contentFlow.AddLink(message.Content.Substring(link.Index, link.Length), link.Url, link.Action, link.Argument);
                 }
 
                 var lastLink = message.Links[message.Links.Count - 1];
diff --git a/osu.Game/Overlays/ChatOverlay.cs b/osu.Game/Overlays/ChatOverlay.cs
index 61e37b6e2f..86e4cba9bd 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Overlays/ChatOverlay.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Overlays/ChatOverlay.cs
@@ -41,11 +41,6 @@ namespace osu.Game.Overlays
 
         private readonly FocusedTextBox textbox;
 
-        /// <summary>
-        /// The current OsuGame instance. Will be null for Tests.
-        /// </summary>
-        public OsuGame Game;
-
         private APIAccess api;
 
         private const int transition_length = 500;
@@ -275,11 +270,9 @@ namespace osu.Game.Overlays
             base.PopOut();
         }
 
-        [BackgroundDependencyLoader(true)]
-        private void load(APIAccess api, OsuConfigManager config, OsuColour colours, OsuGame game)
+        [BackgroundDependencyLoader]
+        private void load(APIAccess api, OsuConfigManager config, OsuColour colours)
         {
-            // game will be null in testing, so some links will not work
-            Game = game;
             this.api = api;
             api.Register(this);
 
diff --git a/osu.Game/Overlays/Profile/ProfileHeader.cs b/osu.Game/Overlays/Profile/ProfileHeader.cs
index f1efbbc54a..a931df78af 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Overlays/Profile/ProfileHeader.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Overlays/Profile/ProfileHeader.cs
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Overlays.Profile
     public class ProfileHeader : Container
     {
         private readonly OsuTextFlowContainer infoTextLeft;
-        private readonly OsuLinkFlowContainer infoTextRight;
+        private readonly LinkFlowContainer infoTextRight;
         private readonly FillFlowContainer<SpriteText> scoreText, scoreNumberText;
         private readonly RankGraph rankGraph;
 
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Overlays.Profile
                     ParagraphSpacing = 0.8f,
                     LineSpacing = 0.2f
                 },
-                infoTextRight = new OsuLinkFlowContainer(t =>
+                infoTextRight = new LinkFlowContainer(t =>
                 {
                     t.TextSize = 14;
                     t.Font = @"Exo2.0-RegularItalic";
@@ -473,6 +473,20 @@ namespace osu.Game.Overlays.Profile
             }
         }
 
+        private class LinkFlowContainer : OsuTextFlowContainer
+        {
+            public override bool HandleInput => true;
+
+            public LinkFlowContainer(Action<SpriteText> defaultCreationParameters = null)
+                : base(defaultCreationParameters)
+            {
+            }
+
+            protected override SpriteText CreateSpriteText() => new OsuSpriteLink();
+
+            public void AddLink(string text, string url) => AddText(text, sprite => ((OsuSpriteLink)sprite).Url = url);
+        }
+
         private class ProfileLink : OsuSpriteLink, IHasTooltip
         {
             public string TooltipText => "View Profile in Browser";
diff --git a/osu.Game/osu.Game.csproj b/osu.Game/osu.Game.csproj
index d32c458ccf..37f94cf4f7 100644
--- a/osu.Game/osu.Game.csproj
+++ b/osu.Game/osu.Game.csproj
@@ -268,9 +268,10 @@
     <Compile Include="Beatmaps\Formats\LegacyStoryboardDecoder.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Database\DatabaseContextFactory.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Database\IHasPrimaryKey.cs" />
+    <Compile Include="Graphics\Containers\ChatFlowContainer.cs" />
+    <Compile Include="Online\API\Requests\GetUserRequest.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Overlays\Profile\SupporterIcon.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Overlays\Settings\DangerousSettingsButton.cs" />
-    <Compile Include="Graphics\Containers\OsuLinkFlowContainer.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Graphics\Sprites\OsuSpriteLink.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Graphics\UserInterface\HoverClickSounds.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Graphics\UserInterface\HoverSounds.cs" />
@@ -293,7 +294,6 @@
       <DependentUpon>20171209034410_AddRulesetInfoShortName.cs</DependentUpon>
     </Compile>
     <Compile Include="Migrations\OsuDbContextModelSnapshot.cs" />
-    <Compile Include="Online\API\Requests\GetBeatmapRequest.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Online\API\Requests\GetBeatmapSetRequest.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Online\Chat\ChatLink.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Online\Chat\MessageFormatter.cs" />
@@ -441,7 +441,6 @@
     <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" />