diff --git a/builtin/game/chatcommands.lua b/builtin/game/chat.lua
similarity index 98%
rename from builtin/game/chatcommands.lua
rename to builtin/game/chat.lua
index b2a49863e..84559b064 100644
--- a/builtin/game/chatcommands.lua
+++ b/builtin/game/chat.lua
@@ -1,4 +1,29 @@
--- Minetest: builtin/game/chatcommands.lua
+-- Minetest: builtin/game/chat.lua
+
+--
+-- Chat message formatter
+--
+
+-- Implemented in Lua to allow redefinition
+function core.format_chat_message(name, message)
+	local str = core.settings:get("chat_message_format")
+	local error_str = "Invalid chat message format - missing %s"
+	local i
+
+	str, i = str:gsub("@name", name, 1)
+	if i == 0 then
+		error(error_str:format("@name"), 2)
+	end
+
+	str, i = str:gsub("@message", message, 1)
+	if i == 0 then
+		error(error_str:format("@message"), 2)
+	end
+
+	str = str:gsub("@timestamp", os.date("%H:%M:%S", os.time()), 1)
+
+	return str
+end
 
 --
 -- Chat command handler
diff --git a/builtin/game/init.lua b/builtin/game/init.lua
index 04f0732e5..271e49be3 100644
--- a/builtin/game/init.lua
+++ b/builtin/game/init.lua
@@ -1,37 +1,37 @@
 
 local scriptpath = core.get_builtin_path()
-local commonpath = scriptpath.."common"..DIR_DELIM
-local gamepath = scriptpath.."game"..DIR_DELIM
+local commonpath = scriptpath .. "common" .. DIR_DELIM
+local gamepath   = scriptpath .. "game".. DIR_DELIM
 
 -- Shared between builtin files, but
 -- not exposed to outer context
 local builtin_shared = {}
 
-dofile(commonpath.."vector.lua")
+dofile(commonpath .. "vector.lua")
 
-dofile(gamepath.."constants.lua")
-assert(loadfile(gamepath.."item.lua"))(builtin_shared)
-dofile(gamepath.."register.lua")
+dofile(gamepath .. "constants.lua")
+assert(loadfile(gamepath .. "item.lua"))(builtin_shared)
+dofile(gamepath .. "register.lua")
 
 if core.settings:get_bool("profiler.load") then
-	profiler = dofile(scriptpath.."profiler"..DIR_DELIM.."init.lua")
+	profiler = dofile(scriptpath .. "profiler" .. DIR_DELIM .. "init.lua")
 end
 
 dofile(commonpath .. "after.lua")
-dofile(gamepath.."item_entity.lua")
-dofile(gamepath.."deprecated.lua")
-dofile(gamepath.."misc.lua")
-dofile(gamepath.."privileges.lua")
-dofile(gamepath.."auth.lua")
+dofile(gamepath .. "item_entity.lua")
+dofile(gamepath .. "deprecated.lua")
+dofile(gamepath .. "misc.lua")
+dofile(gamepath .. "privileges.lua")
+dofile(gamepath .. "auth.lua")
 dofile(commonpath .. "chatcommands.lua")
-dofile(gamepath.."chatcommands.lua")
+dofile(gamepath .. "chat.lua")
 dofile(commonpath .. "information_formspecs.lua")
-dofile(gamepath.."static_spawn.lua")
-dofile(gamepath.."detached_inventory.lua")
-assert(loadfile(gamepath.."falling.lua"))(builtin_shared)
-dofile(gamepath.."features.lua")
-dofile(gamepath.."voxelarea.lua")
-dofile(gamepath.."forceloading.lua")
-dofile(gamepath.."statbars.lua")
+dofile(gamepath .. "static_spawn.lua")
+dofile(gamepath .. "detached_inventory.lua")
+assert(loadfile(gamepath .. "falling.lua"))(builtin_shared)
+dofile(gamepath .. "features.lua")
+dofile(gamepath .. "voxelarea.lua")
+dofile(gamepath .. "forceloading.lua")
+dofile(gamepath .. "statbars.lua")
 
 profiler = nil
diff --git a/builtin/settingtypes.txt b/builtin/settingtypes.txt
index 931fe26da..21da565ca 100644
--- a/builtin/settingtypes.txt
+++ b/builtin/settingtypes.txt
@@ -1058,6 +1058,10 @@ disable_anticheat (Disable anticheat) bool false
 #    This option is only read when server starts.
 enable_rollback_recording (Rollback recording) bool false
 
+#    Format of player chat messages. The following strings are valid placeholders:
+#    @name, @message, @timestamp (optional)
+chat_message_format (Chat message format) string <@name> @message
+
 #    A message to be displayed to all clients when the server shuts down.
 kick_msg_shutdown (Shutdown message) string Server shutting down.
 
diff --git a/doc/lua_api.txt b/doc/lua_api.txt
index 41061ed87..840841e6b 100644
--- a/doc/lua_api.txt
+++ b/doc/lua_api.txt
@@ -4156,6 +4156,12 @@ Chat
 
 * `minetest.chat_send_all(text)`
 * `minetest.chat_send_player(name, text)`
+* `minetest.format_chat_message(name, message)`
+    * Used by the server to format a chat message, based on the setting `chat_message_format`.
+      Refer to the documentation of the setting for a list of valid placeholders.
+    * Takes player name and message, and returns the formatted string to be sent to players.
+    * Can be redefined by mods if required, for things like colored names or messages.
+    * **Only** the first occurrence of each placeholder will be replaced.
 
 Environment access
 ------------------
diff --git a/minetest.conf.example b/minetest.conf.example
index fe9d0e7f9..fc02e70cf 100644
--- a/minetest.conf.example
+++ b/minetest.conf.example
@@ -1277,6 +1277,11 @@
 #    type: bool
 # enable_rollback_recording = false
 
+#    Format of player chat messages. The following strings are valid placeholders:
+#    @name, @message, @timestamp (optional)
+#    type: string
+chat_message_format = <@name> @message
+
 #    A message to be displayed to all clients when the server shuts down.
 #    type: string
 # kick_msg_shutdown = Server shutting down.
diff --git a/src/defaultsettings.cpp b/src/defaultsettings.cpp
index 4c39a44e1..b6ab7c9a0 100644
--- a/src/defaultsettings.cpp
+++ b/src/defaultsettings.cpp
@@ -356,6 +356,7 @@ void set_default_settings(Settings *settings)
 	settings->setDefault("kick_msg_crash", "This server has experienced an internal error. You will now be disconnected.");
 	settings->setDefault("ask_reconnect_on_crash", "false");
 
+	settings->setDefault("chat_message_format", "<@name> @message");
 	settings->setDefault("profiler_print_interval", "0");
 	settings->setDefault("active_object_send_range_blocks", "4");
 	settings->setDefault("active_block_range", "3");
diff --git a/src/gettime.h b/src/gettime.h
index f20728dfd..66efef1d7 100644
--- a/src/gettime.h
+++ b/src/gettime.h
@@ -19,7 +19,6 @@ with this program; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation, Inc.,
 
 #pragma once
 
-#include "irrlichttypes.h"
 #include <ctime>
 #include <string>
 
diff --git a/src/script/cpp_api/s_server.cpp b/src/script/cpp_api/s_server.cpp
index 3b461a2a3..1ce2f9d45 100644
--- a/src/script/cpp_api/s_server.cpp
+++ b/src/script/cpp_api/s_server.cpp
@@ -168,3 +168,25 @@ void ScriptApiServer::on_shutdown()
 	runCallbacks(0, RUN_CALLBACKS_MODE_FIRST);
 }
 
+std::string ScriptApiServer::formatChatMessage(const std::string &name,
+	const std::string &message)
+{
+	SCRIPTAPI_PRECHECKHEADER
+
+	// Push function onto stack
+	lua_getglobal(L, "core");
+	lua_getfield(L, -1, "format_chat_message");
+
+	// Push arguments onto stack
+	lua_pushstring(L, name.c_str());
+	lua_pushstring(L, message.c_str());
+
+	// Actually call the function
+	lua_call(L, 2, 1);
+
+	// Fetch return value
+	std::string ret = lua_tostring(L, -1);
+	lua_pop(L, 1);
+
+	return ret;
+}
diff --git a/src/script/cpp_api/s_server.h b/src/script/cpp_api/s_server.h
index 769939d3f..a4cede84d 100644
--- a/src/script/cpp_api/s_server.h
+++ b/src/script/cpp_api/s_server.h
@@ -36,14 +36,18 @@ public:
 	// Calls on_shutdown handlers
 	void on_shutdown();
 
+	// Calls core.format_chat_message
+	std::string formatChatMessage(const std::string &name,
+		const std::string &message);
+
 	/* auth */
 	bool getAuth(const std::string &playername,
-			std::string *dst_password,
-			std::set<std::string> *dst_privs);
+		std::string *dst_password,
+		std::set<std::string> *dst_privs);
 	void createAuth(const std::string &playername,
-			const std::string &password);
+		const std::string &password);
 	bool setPassword(const std::string &playername,
-			const std::string &password);
+		const std::string &password);
 private:
 	void getAuthHandler();
 	void readPrivileges(int index, std::set<std::string> &result);
diff --git a/src/server.cpp b/src/server.cpp
index 7e6208711..27388e666 100644
--- a/src/server.cpp
+++ b/src/server.cpp
@@ -1571,7 +1571,7 @@ void Server::SendChatMessage(session_t peer_id, const ChatMessage &message)
 }
 
 void Server::SendShowFormspecMessage(session_t peer_id, const std::string &formspec,
-                                     const std::string &formname)
+	const std::string &formname)
 {
 	NetworkPacket pkt(TOCLIENT_SHOW_FORMSPEC, 0 , peer_id);
 	if (formspec.empty()){
@@ -2863,28 +2863,28 @@ std::wstring Server::handleChat(const std::string &name, const std::wstring &wna
 {
 	// If something goes wrong, this player is to blame
 	RollbackScopeActor rollback_scope(m_rollback,
-		std::string("player:") + name);
+			std::string("player:") + name);
 
 	if (g_settings->getBool("strip_color_codes"))
 		wmessage = unescape_enriched(wmessage);
 
 	if (player) {
 		switch (player->canSendChatMessage()) {
-			case RPLAYER_CHATRESULT_FLOODING: {
-				std::wstringstream ws;
-				ws << L"You cannot send more messages. You are limited to "
-				   << g_settings->getFloat("chat_message_limit_per_10sec")
-				   << L" messages per 10 seconds.";
-				return ws.str();
-			}
-			case RPLAYER_CHATRESULT_KICK:
-				DenyAccess_Legacy(player->getPeerId(),
-						L"You have been kicked due to message flooding.");
-				return L"";
-			case RPLAYER_CHATRESULT_OK:
-				break;
-			default:
-				FATAL_ERROR("Unhandled chat filtering result found.");
+		case RPLAYER_CHATRESULT_FLOODING: {
+			std::wstringstream ws;
+			ws << L"You cannot send more messages. You are limited to "
+					<< g_settings->getFloat("chat_message_limit_per_10sec")
+					<< L" messages per 10 seconds.";
+			return ws.str();
+		}
+		case RPLAYER_CHATRESULT_KICK:
+			DenyAccess_Legacy(player->getPeerId(),
+					L"You have been kicked due to message flooding.");
+			return L"";
+		case RPLAYER_CHATRESULT_OK:
+			break;
+		default:
+			FATAL_ERROR("Unhandled chat filtering result found.");
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -2912,10 +2912,8 @@ std::wstring Server::handleChat(const std::string &name, const std::wstring &wna
 		line += L"-!- You don't have permission to shout.";
 		broadcast_line = false;
 	} else {
-		line += L"<";
-		line += wname;
-		line += L"> ";
-		line += wmessage;
+		line += narrow_to_wide(m_script->formatChatMessage(name,
+				wide_to_narrow(wmessage)));
 	}
 
 	/*