Discord has started testing a new virtual reward system called “Orbs”, aiming to drive more user interaction with its in-app advertisements. The initiative appears to be part of the company’s broader strategy as it gears up for a potential public listing.
With Orbs, users can earn digital rewards by participating in “Quests,” a feature where viewers engage with brand content like promotional videos or interactive games. In return, they receive virtual items. Now, with the introduction of Orbs, users can collect these rewards and redeem them in the Discord Shop for exclusive items such as Nitro credits, profile badges, avatar decorations, and various cosmetic effects.
The new reward system is clearly designed to increase participation in Quests, enhancing Discord’s appeal to advertisers by showcasing a scalable and interactive advertising platform.
According to Discord’s leadership, the Quests feature has already seen notable success, with over 70 campaigns reaching a 10% participation rate and millions of rewards distributed in the past year, based on internal reports.
Currently, Quests can be found in the lower left section of the app on desktop and gaming consoles. The feature is set to arrive on mobile devices starting June.
The rollout of Orbs could also serve as a gateway for users to experience premium features like Nitro without spending money directly. For example, collecting 1,400 Orbs can get users three free days of Nitro, a subscription that normally costs around ₹830 per month.
The Orbs feature is being introduced to a limited user base and is expected to expand globally in the near future.
