Google Messages Getting RCS Video Calls

Currently, if you use Google Messages and want to make a video call, you can do so with select recipients, but it pushes you to Google Meet and is not really a native video calling experience. While there could technically be a carrier-provided video solution too, I’m not sure I could tell you of one as an example.

Today, a dive into a recent Google Messages update appears to show that RCS video calling could be around the corner. The details are light and rough, but the evidence supporting this feature is there and more should arrive as future updates drop.

An update to Google Messages beta as build messages.android_20260924_00_RC00 provides the evidence, with references like “rcs_video_bottom_sheet_call_button,” among other strings. There are also notes about “Ignoring RCS video call request” if recipients aren’t “reachable over RCS video.”

Below are some strings for reference.

Call
Cancel
Call?
Call %1$s? 
Ignoring RCS video call request: no...