So first MSN, now Skype gone, what else is there?

There are plenty of good free offers. Teams if you want to stick with Microsoft. Google has Meet, Zoom also still exists.

I thought that one have every gamer => Discord ☺️.

LINE, but only be popular in some Asia countries.

Try https://www.gather.town/, it's kinda fun

TIL they shut down skype. I stopped using it 10 years ago, after they removed the app from my tv (which I bought specifically so that kids could talk to their gramps). Anyway, if I absolutely must use video chat, it's usually whatever the caller is using - teams, meet or telegram.

I use Google Meet for work almost every day, in my experience it works really well. You can spontaneously set up a room, or use the same room again and again if you want. You just need to share the link. On the free version, for meetings with more than 2 of you there is a limit of 1 hour, but that just means you all have to leave and then enter again.

That said, my wife prefers Teams. They're both free, so you can experiment and see what works for you!

Signal has video calls

Slack allows 1-to-1 video calls in the free version.

I would say microsoft teams. Just have 1 on 1 chat and you can call/video there.. Just like in skype.. (haven't used skype for like 10 years or more so not sure if it changed or stayed the same)
Also can create (group) chat with more people.
Also if you go skype.com, you see this. So it's the next step from skype.
"Skype is retiring in May 2025. Beginning March 2025, you will be able to sign into Microsoft Teams Free with your Skype credentials, and your chats and contacts will be right there ready for you. Enjoy the features you love about Skype, including free calling and messaging, as well as new features like meetings and communities, all on Teams app."

Some options available:

https://github.com/okhosting/awesome-communication

You can pick from open-source projects, self-hosted solutions, WebRTC-based, etc.

no one talks about how quiet icq died RIP icq may you be forever forgotten

We use Google Meet for D&D, and small things. Being able to share a URL is handy.

Work uses Zoom. It also has a time limit for free accounts. Not sure if it's like Meet's though.

Facebook messenger ?

I video-talk with my parents using Whatsapp Desktop app while they are on their phones. Both can have their pick of favorite device

Good, was uncommon in usage. Obsolete enough to kill.
In addition to the suggestions, whatsapp does video on pc now, btw.

Id personally go with Meets or Zoom. Effortless.

I was going to suggest Whatsapp since it's what most people use these days and it works on plenty of devices but I read that your friend doesn't want to use it for some reason, I kinda get it, some want to keep some things away from their phone rather than surrender our lives to the black rectangle in our pockets. Does Telegram have a desktop app?

Playing games for quite a while I've been a very satisfied user of TeamSpeak. Seems, that it's still around and free. I've actually been very upset, when everyone has switched to Discord, which I since use, but still strongly dislike.

I used Skype until last week so that my kids could talk with my parents, back home.

We've since moved to Teams and the experience has been positive. Better connection, better image and better sound. The transfer was also hassle free which was a must for them.

my progression was AOL to MSN to Live Messenger (when MSN was rebranded) to Skype to Discord
I've also used facebook messenger and Teams for specific ppl but generally Discord is easiest right now since most folks are on it. It has a small learning curve but nothing too crazy.

I was going to mention Jitsi Meet, but after checking it quickly I realized that they dropped Firefox support, which I find quite shocking for an open-source product that used to work perfectly on it years ago...

From what i know:
1:1 focused: whatsapp, telegram, line
Group focused: discord, slack, zoom, google meet

I use Signal with my family/extended family. Chats, voice calls, video calls

I use Google Meets

Microsoft Teams is what replaced Skype, so if you like Skype that's pretty much where to go.

mirc still works.