diff --git a/src/bot/base_commands.cpp b/src/bot/base_commands.cpp
index d2d16c4..9fb5546 100644
--- a/src/bot/base_commands.cpp
+++ b/src/bot/base_commands.cpp
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ using namespace std::literals;
 command quit_command{ [](command_context& context) {
 	using namespace jessilib::io;
 	text quit_text{ u8"Closing jessibot", text::property::bold, color{ 0xFF0000 } }; // TODO: localize
-	context.publicReply(formatted_message{ "{}", quit_text });
+	context.publicReply(formatted_message{ u8"{}", quit_text });
 	notify_shutdown();
 }, u8"quit" };
 
@@ -40,19 +40,19 @@ command help_command{ [](command_context& context) {
 
 	if (table_name.empty()) {
 		text error_text{ u8"ERROR", text::property::bold, color{ 0xFF0000 } }; // TODO: localize
-		context.publicReply(formatted_message{ "{} command context is missing permission table name", error_text });
+		context.publicReply(formatted_message{ u8"{} command context is missing permission table name", error_text });
 		return;
 	}
 
 	// table examples: "console", "irc", "irc+", "irc%", "irc@"; should table instead be 'tables'?
 
 	text table_text{ table_name, text::property::bold, color{ 0x0000FF } };
-	context.publicReply(formatted_message{ "Commands for table '{}':", table_text });
+	context.publicReply(formatted_message{ u8"Commands for table '{}':", table_text });
 
 	// TODO: read some permission table and filter commands based upon permission and context information
 	const command_manager& manager = command_manager::instance();
 	manager.foreach([&context](basic_command* in_command) {
-		context.publicReply(formatted_message{ "{}", in_command->label() });
+		context.publicReply(formatted_message{ u8"{}", in_command->label() });
 		return true;
 	});
 }, u8"help" };
diff --git a/src/bot/console/console.cpp b/src/bot/console/console.cpp
index 055ec9e..fd868f2 100644
--- a/src/bot/console/console.cpp
+++ b/src/bot/console/console.cpp
@@ -38,8 +38,8 @@ void console_input_loop() {
 		if (!command_manager::instance().execute_command(context)) {
 			text error_text{ u8"ERROR", text::property::bold, color{ 0xFF0000 }};
 			text keyword_text{ context.keyword(), text::property::bold, color{ 0x0000FF }};
-			auto result = process_message<ansi::text_wrapper>(formatted_message{"{} Command \"{}\" not found", error_text, keyword_text});
-			std::cout << result << std::endl;
+			auto result = process_message<ansi::text_wrapper>(formatted_message{u8"{} Command \"{}\" not found", error_text, keyword_text});
+			std::wcout << jessilib::string_cast<wchar_t>(result) << std::endl;
 		}
 	}
 }
diff --git a/src/bot/console/console_command_context.cpp b/src/bot/console/console_command_context.cpp
index 3974f1b..ee37627 100644
--- a/src/bot/console/console_command_context.cpp
+++ b/src/bot/console/console_command_context.cpp
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ jessilib::object console_command_context::details() const {
 	return s_details;
 }
 
-std::string console_command_context::getText(std::string_view tag) const {
+std::u8string console_command_context::getText(std::u8string_view tag) const {
 	return { tag.begin(), tag.end() }; // TODO: implement properly
 }
 
diff --git a/src/bot/console/console_command_context.hpp b/src/bot/console/console_command_context.hpp
index ef07c70..74dc0eb 100644
--- a/src/bot/console/console_command_context.hpp
+++ b/src/bot/console/console_command_context.hpp
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ public:
 
 	/** Additional contextual details */
 	jessilib::object details() const override;
-	std::string getText(std::string_view tag) const override;
+	std::u8string getText(std::u8string_view tag) const override;
 }; // class console_command_context
 
 } // namespace io
diff --git a/src/external/fmt b/src/external/fmt
index 812733c..9d5b9de 160000
--- a/src/external/fmt
+++ b/src/external/fmt
@@ -1 +1 @@
-Subproject commit 812733cc963b2e1d96f6ad2cb2d441c6fe8e4a5b
+Subproject commit 9d5b9defde1334726d35c0d21b6225511ed3976e
diff --git a/src/include/jessilib/io/ansi/ansi_text.hpp b/src/include/jessilib/io/ansi/ansi_text.hpp
index 35ee08c..c039d51 100644
--- a/src/include/jessilib/io/ansi/ansi_text.hpp
+++ b/src/include/jessilib/io/ansi/ansi_text.hpp
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ class text_wrapper : public text {};
 
 // Control characters
 static constexpr uint8_t ESCAPE_CHR{ 0x1B };
-static constexpr std::string_view ESCAPE{ "\x1B[" };
+static constexpr std::u8string_view ESCAPE{ u8"\x1B[" };
 // ESCAPE + '[' + <color or graphics code list> + 'm'
 
 // Graphics modes
@@ -42,16 +42,16 @@ static constexpr uint8_t CONCEALED{ '8' };
 static constexpr uint8_t GRAPHICS_SEP{ ';' };
 static constexpr uint8_t GRAPHICS_END{ 'm' };
 
-static constexpr std::string_view COLOR_HEX{ "38;2" };
-static constexpr std::string_view COLOR_DEFAULT{ "39" };
-static constexpr std::string_view COLOR_BG_HEX{ "48;2" };
-static constexpr std::string_view COLOR_BG_DEFAULT{ "49" };
+static constexpr std::u8string_view COLOR_HEX{ u8"38;2" };
+static constexpr std::u8string_view COLOR_DEFAULT{ u8"39" };
+static constexpr std::u8string_view COLOR_BG_HEX{ u8"48;2" };
+static constexpr std::u8string_view COLOR_BG_DEFAULT{ u8"49" };
 
 } // namespace ansi
 
 template<>
-inline std::string text_to_string<ansi::text_wrapper>(const ansi::text_wrapper& in_text) {
-	std::string result;
+inline std::u8string text_to_string<ansi::text_wrapper>(const ansi::text_wrapper& in_text) {
+	std::u8string result;
 	result.reserve(in_text.string().size() + 8);
 
 	auto set_graphic_option = [&result](auto in_option) {
@@ -65,7 +65,12 @@ inline std::string text_to_string<ansi::text_wrapper>(const ansi::text_wrapper&
 		}
 
 		// Append graphics option
-		result += in_option;
+		if constexpr (std::is_same_v<decltype(in_option), std::string>) {
+			result += jessilib::string_view_cast<char8_t>(in_option);
+		}
+		else {
+			result += in_option;
+		}
 	};
 
 	// Set graphics properties
@@ -100,7 +105,7 @@ inline std::string text_to_string<ansi::text_wrapper>(const ansi::text_wrapper&
 	}
 
 	// Append textual string
-	result += jessilib::ustring_to_mbstring(std::u8string_view{in_text.string()}).second;
+	result += in_text.string();
 
 	// Reset (if needed)
 	if (in_text.properties() != text::property::normal) {
@@ -117,10 +122,10 @@ inline std::string text_to_string<ansi::text_wrapper>(const ansi::text_wrapper&
 } // namespace jessilib
 
 template<>
-struct fmt::formatter<jessilib::io::ansi::text_wrapper> : formatter<std::string> {
+struct fmt::formatter<jessilib::io::ansi::text_wrapper, char8_t> : formatter<std::u8string, char8_t> {
 	template <typename FormatContext>
 	auto format(const jessilib::io::ansi::text_wrapper& in_text, FormatContext& in_context) {
 		// Pass result to base
-		return formatter<std::string>::format(jessilib::io::text_to_string(in_text), in_context);
+		return formatter<std::u8string, char8_t>::format(jessilib::io::text_to_string(in_text), in_context);
 	}
 };
diff --git a/src/include/jessilib/io/command_context.hpp b/src/include/jessilib/io/command_context.hpp
index 0a14f12..4257b8f 100644
--- a/src/include/jessilib/io/command_context.hpp
+++ b/src/include/jessilib/io/command_context.hpp
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ public:
 
 	/** Additional contextual details */
 	virtual object details() const = 0; // Additional details
-	virtual std::string getText(std::string_view tag) const = 0; // Get localized text
+	virtual std::u8string getText(std::u8string_view tag) const = 0; // Get localized text
 
 private:
 	string_type m_input;
diff --git a/src/include/jessilib/io/irc/irc_text.hpp b/src/include/jessilib/io/irc/irc_text.hpp
index 2a77719..a68a90c 100644
--- a/src/include/jessilib/io/irc/irc_text.hpp
+++ b/src/include/jessilib/io/irc/irc_text.hpp
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@
 
 #pragma once
 
-#include "io/message.hpp"
+#include "jessilib/io/message.hpp"
 
 namespace jessilib {
 namespace io {
@@ -45,19 +45,19 @@ static constexpr color s_irc_colors[] {
 #endif // JESSILIB_IRC_SIMPLE_COLORS
 };
 
-static constexpr std::string_view s_irc_color_codes[] {
+static constexpr std::u8string_view s_irc_color_codes[] {
 	// Basic 16 colors (0-15)
-	"00", "01", "02", "03", "04", "05", "06", "07", "08", "09", "10", "11", "12", "13", "14", "15",
+	u8"00", u8"01", u8"02", u8"03", u8"04", u8"05", u8"06", u8"07", u8"08", u8"09", u8"10", u8"11", u8"12", u8"13", u8"14", u8"15",
 
 #ifndef JESSILIB_IRC_SIMPLE_COLORS
 	// Extended colors (16-98, making a total of 99 color choices)
-	"16", "17", "18", "19", "20", "21", "22", "23", "24", "25", "26", "27",
-	"28", "29", "30", "31", "32", "33", "34", "35", "36", "37", "38", "39",
-	"40", "41", "42", "43", "44", "45", "46", "47", "48", "49", "50", "51",
-	"52", "53", "54", "55", "56", "57", "58", "59", "60", "61", "62", "63",
-	"64", "65", "66", "67", "68", "69", "70", "71", "72", "73", "74", "75",
-	"76", "77", "78", "79", "80", "81", "82", "83", "84", "85", "86", "87",
-	"88", "89", "90", "91", "92", "93", "94", "95", "96", "97", "98"
+	u8"16", u8"17", u8"18", u8"19", u8"20", u8"21", u8"22", u8"23", u8"24", u8"25", u8"26", u8"27",
+	u8"28", u8"29", u8"30", u8"31", u8"32", u8"33", u8"34", u8"35", u8"36", u8"37", u8"38", u8"39",
+	u8"40", u8"41", u8"42", u8"43", u8"44", u8"45", u8"46", u8"47", u8"48", u8"49", u8"50", u8"51",
+	u8"52", u8"53", u8"54", u8"55", u8"56", u8"57", u8"58", u8"59", u8"60", u8"61", u8"62", u8"63",
+	u8"64", u8"65", u8"66", u8"67", u8"68", u8"69", u8"70", u8"71", u8"72", u8"73", u8"74", u8"75",
+	u8"76", u8"77", u8"78", u8"79", u8"80", u8"81", u8"82", u8"83", u8"84", u8"85", u8"86", u8"87",
+	u8"88", u8"89", u8"90", u8"91", u8"92", u8"93", u8"94", u8"95", u8"96", u8"97", u8"98"
 #endif // JESSILIB_IRC_SIMPLE_COLORS
 };
 
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ constexpr color normalize_color(color in_color) {
 	return s_irc_colors[from_color(in_color)];
 }
 
-constexpr std::string_view color_to_code(color in_color) {
+constexpr std::u8string_view color_to_code(color in_color) {
 	return s_irc_color_codes[from_color(in_color)];
 }
 
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ static constexpr uint8_t COLOR_HEX{ 0x04 };
 static constexpr uint8_t REVERSE{ 0x16 };
 static constexpr uint8_t NORMAL{ 0x0F };
 
-text::property properties_to_toggle(text::property in_active_properties, text::property in_text_properties, uint8_t in_active_color, uint8_t in_text_color, uint8_t in_active_color_bg, uint8_t in_text_color_bg) {
+inline text::property properties_to_toggle(text::property in_active_properties, text::property in_text_properties, uint8_t in_active_color, uint8_t in_text_color, uint8_t in_active_color_bg, uint8_t in_text_color_bg) {
 	text::property_backing_t active_properties_backing = static_cast<text::property_backing_t>(in_active_properties);
 	text::property_backing_t text_properties_backing = static_cast<text::property_backing_t>(in_text_properties);
 
@@ -138,8 +138,8 @@ text::property properties_to_toggle(text::property in_active_properties, text::p
 } // namespace irc
 
 template<>
-inline std::string text_to_string<irc::text_wrapper>(const irc::text_wrapper& in_text) {
-	std::string result;
+inline std::u8string text_to_string<irc::text_wrapper>(const irc::text_wrapper& in_text) {
+	std::u8string result;
 	result.reserve(in_text.string().size() + 8);
 
 	// Prepend properties
@@ -178,10 +178,10 @@ inline std::string text_to_string<irc::text_wrapper>(const irc::text_wrapper& in
 } // namespace jessilib
 
 template<>
-struct fmt::formatter<jessilib::io::irc::text_wrapper> : formatter<std::string> {
+struct fmt::formatter<jessilib::io::irc::text_wrapper, char8_t> : formatter<std::u8string, char8_t> {
 	template <typename FormatContext>
 	auto format(const jessilib::io::irc::text_wrapper& in_text, FormatContext& in_context) {
 		// Pass result to base
-		return formatter<std::string>::format(jessilib::io::text_to_string(in_text), in_context);
+		return formatter<std::u8string, char8_t>::format(jessilib::io::text_to_string(in_text), in_context);
 	}
 };
diff --git a/src/include/jessilib/io/message.hpp b/src/include/jessilib/io/message.hpp
index fbe9395..a295dae 100644
--- a/src/include/jessilib/io/message.hpp
+++ b/src/include/jessilib/io/message.hpp
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@
 #include <string_view>
 #include <type_traits>
 #include <fmt/format.h>
+#include <fmt/xchar.h>
 #include "jessilib/unicode.hpp"
 #include "color.hpp"
 
@@ -155,13 +156,13 @@ private:
 class formatted_message {
 public:
 	template<typename... Args>
-	formatted_message(std::string in_format, Args&& ... args)
+	formatted_message(std::u8string in_format, Args&& ... args)
 		: m_format{ std::move(in_format) },
 		m_message{ std::forward<Args>(args)... } {
 		// Empty ctor body
 	}
 
-	const std::string& format() const {
+	const std::u8string& format() const {
 		return m_format;
 	}
 
@@ -170,12 +171,12 @@ public:
 	}
 
 private:
-	std::string m_format;
+	std::u8string m_format;
 	std::vector<text> m_message;
 };
 
 template<typename WrapperT>
-std::string text_to_string(const WrapperT& in_text) {
+std::u8string text_to_string(const WrapperT& in_text) {
 	return in_text.string();
 }
 
@@ -209,18 +210,23 @@ std::string process_message(const jessilib::io::message& msg) {
 }
 
 template<typename WrapperT>
-std::string process_message(const jessilib::io::formatted_message& msg) {
-	using format_arg = fmt::format_args::format_arg;
-	std::vector<format_arg> args;
+std::u8string process_message(const jessilib::io::formatted_message& msg) {
+	using FormatCharT = char8_t;
+	using format_args_type = fmt::basic_format_args<fmt::buffer_context<FormatCharT>>;
+	using format_arg_type = format_args_type::format_arg;
+	using format_context_type = fmt::buffer_context<FormatCharT>;
+	using string_view_type = fmt::v8::basic_string_view<FormatCharT>;
 
 	// Populate args
+	std::vector<format_arg_type> args;
 	for (auto& text : msg.get_message()) {
-		args.emplace_back(fmt::detail::make_arg<fmt::format_context>(wrap_text<WrapperT>(text)));
+		args.emplace_back(fmt::detail::make_arg<format_context_type>(wrap_text<WrapperT>(text)));
 	}
 
 	// Pass args into vformat
-	fmt::format_args text_args{ args.data(), static_cast<int>(args.size()) };
-	return fmt::vformat(msg.format(), text_args);
+	format_args_type text_args{ args.data(), static_cast<int>(args.size()) };
+	string_view_type fmt_view{ msg.format().data(), msg.format().size() };
+	return fmt::vformat(fmt_view, text_args);
 }
 
 } // namespace io