Chat and group platform Discord has introduced plans to refocus on gaming with a brand new redesign. The corporate will rework key options like group messages, voice chats, video calls, and extra as part of the platform’s new look.
“After taking stock of the world now that the pandemic is largely behind us, and learning directly from you about how Discord can be even more useful, we’ve recognized the need to narrow our focus from broadly being a community-centric chat app to being a place that helps people deepen their friendships around games and shared interests,” mentioned CEO Jason Citron in a weblog submit.
Whereas gaming has all the time been core to the corporate’s roots, the corporate is leaning into the wants of its largely gaming viewers. Of Discord’s 200 million month-to-month energetic customers, over 90% play video games.
Within the brief time period, Discord plans to enhance the velocity, reliability and performance of its app throughout PC, consoles (PlayStation and Xbox) and cell.
Lil Snack & GamesBeat
GamesBeat is worked up to companion with Lil Snack to have custom-made video games only for our viewers! We all know as avid gamers ourselves, that is an thrilling method to interact by play with the GamesBeat content material you will have already come to like. Begin taking part in video games now!
Along with technical enhancements, the corporate additionally needs to maintain avid gamers engaged after play classes finish. Discord has developed and launched mini-games and different actions itself, nevertheless it plans to open up the platform to different third-party builders. Discord’s Embedded App SDK will launch quickly, permitting third-party devs to convey video games to market on the platform. For extra conventional sport builders, the platform additionally launched Quests to encourage gamers (and their pals) to attempt new video games.
Discord’s refocus
Discord is reprioritizing gaming at a time the place the platform is in a state of flux.
On the funding facet, the corporate raised practically $1 billion since 2013 and was valued at $15 billion on the peak of the market in 2021. Whereas Citron has reportedly thought-about an IPO, Discord’s profitability is unclear.
Whereas Discord has experimented with new income streams, the corporate has additionally made cuts to “resharpen its focus.” In January 2024, the corporate laid off 17% of its workers to enhance effectivity.
Along with its capital issues, Discord has additionally been beneath regulatory scrutiny. Citron was considered one of 5 tech CEOs that testified in a U.S. Senate listening to in January 2024 about on-line baby security.
Finally, Discord’s effort to refocus on gaming alerts that the platform believes the trail to profitability is paved by video games.