In a surprising move, Discord has confirmed that it will be rolling out third-party advertisements on its mobile platform. The communication platform, primarily focused on gamers, is set to launch a mobile pilot for Video Quests — a feature where users can earn enticing rewards such as avatar decorations and in-game items by watching video ads — scheduled for June 2025. This launch follows the successful introduction of similar ads on PC and console platforms last year.

Peter Sellis on Mobile Advertising

Peter Sellis, Discord’s product leader, emphasized the strategic expansion into mobile advertising, stating, “Expanding our advertising platform to mobile is an obvious, natural evolution in our strategy. Our mission is to create the most authentic, player-centric advertising platform in the galaxy.” He further explained that this move will enable brand partners to access Discord’s highly engaged and diverse mobile audience, opening up new avenues for meaningful interactions with users.

User Experience Focus

The mobile ads are designed with user experience in mind, aiming to be minimally disruptive. They will be featured as a 'Quest bar' located at the bottom of the screen. Users can opt to dismiss it or tap it to access the Quest tab. Full-screen videos will only play if users actively choose to accept the Quest, giving them control over their ad experience.

User Control and Options

For those concerned about spammy promotions, Discord has maintained options allowing users to hide in-app advertisements for specific Quests and to opt-out of personalized promotions entirely. These user-friendly options will extend to mobile users as well.

Broader Advertising Strategy

Video Quests are part of a broader advertising strategy that Discord initiated last year, which also includes Play Quests, rewarding users for completing in-game tasks. This shift toward advertising marks a significant departure for Discord, which had previously positioned itself as an ad-free platform, primarily generating revenue through user subscriptions.

Speculations Around IPO

Interestingly, the announcement about mobile ads coincides with speculation that Discord is gearing up for an initial public offering (IPO). The company was valued at around $15 billion by private investors in 2021 and had reportedly explored a $10 billion acquisition deal with Microsoft that year, which ultimately did not materialize.

Community Impact

As Discord navigates this new advertising landscape, users and businesses alike are keenly observing how this will impact the community-focused atmosphere that the platform has cultivated over the years. Stay tuned for updates on this and other exciting features coming to your favorite chat platform!