Facebook avatars are finally available in the US. Starting today, users can design digital recreations of themselves, and post them in comments and Messenger chats. These caricatures are similar to Snap’s BitMoji app, but have their own distinct look. The US rollout of Facebook Avatars — which comes nearly a year after the initial launch — coincides with the release of new clothing, hair and skin tone options.

To design an Avatar, Facebook or Messenger users can find the new “Make Your Avatar” option within the stickers menu in the comment composer. While avatars currently can only be used in comments, chat and Facebook Gaming profiles, the company says that text posts will eventually support the simulacra.

The company has declined to provide more details, including the frequency of releases, the presence of ads or whether there’s any top talent producing the show. However, a spokesperson told TechCrunch that a worldwide premiere is coming “soon.”

This is partly about boosting the worth of Bitmoji. However, it’s likely also about improving the value of Discover. While there’s an increasing amount of sports, news and other professionally-made material in Discover, there aren’t many major, original titles that could give you a reason to come back. Bitmoji TV could give you a reason to check out Discover more often, if just because you have a clear stake the story.

“Our vision is for gamers to open up their favorite game, regardless of what device it’s on, and easily “scan and play” to bring their Bitmoji directly into the game. At the option to choose an avatar or character, gamers will be shown a Snapcode on screen, prompting them to scan the code via Snapchat to link the account and play as your own Bitmoji,” wrote a Snapchat spokesman.

There’s no word on which developers or games will choose to integrate Snapchat’s Bitmoji avatars. There’s currently support for Unity, Unreal and British VR gaming startup PlayCanvas already inside Snapchat. The Bitmoji for Games website tells players to stay tuned for more updates.

Opening up its features to video game developers is part of Snapchat’s most recent attempt at integrating the gaming community. The app has struggled to increase user growth, and its venture into gaming could help it gain momentum. Earlier this month, Snapchat unveiled six new titles on its all-new gaming platform, including Bitmoji Party, which also integrates your Bitmoji avatar.

Privacy would play an important role. The check-ins would only work between people who’ve shared their locations. And you alone could see your Passport, a diary of where you’ve been and who you were with. You could also go into a “ghost mode” (what else?) when you want to remain temporarily inaccessible. You can find out who saw your location or Status.

Snap confirmed to TechCrunch that it’s conducting the test, but it stressed that it’s only available for “a percentage” of Australian users. There’s no guarantee you’ll see the feature become widely available.

It might make sense to add this to Snapchat, though. Status would not only provide a reason to keep coming back to the app, it’d give Snap a feature that Facebook can’t easily duplicate with its own check-in system — not until it fully embraces privacy, at least. That could keep Snapchat relevant at a time when many are questioning its long-term future.