For its first update (1.1), Artifact has delivered a some new social features, as well as colorblind support, and new decks for its Call to Arms event. 

While you can't chat directly with players in this update, you can however possess your cards. Each Hero and creep has dialogue that you can control. It's down to you which voice line you select, while you can also send customised messaged using the cards (just press and hold Y). 

As for tournaments, they're now "open" and automated that are easy to join and challenging to play. The first, which most folks seem to have named "pauper" consists purely of common cards, and will last around 3 hours. 

Full notes can be found here.