Unskippable video advertisements with rewards will soon appear on Discord. Users participating in these promotions will receive in-game benefits. The advertisements pause as soon as someone leaves the screen, thereby demanding the viewer's full attention. This form of advertising differs from the usual formats on platforms like YouTube.
Discord takes its first serious step towards advertising
Discord has long been known as an ad-free zone for gamers and niche communities. Now, the platform is testing video ads linked to 'In-Game Rewards.' Participation is voluntary, and users can toggle personalized promotions on or off through the privacy settings.
What this change means for businesses
With over 200 million active monthly users, Discord has become an important social platform. For advertisers, this presents an opportunity to be present in an environment where users actively choose to view advertisements. The opt-in approach and interest-based targeting create a high level of engagement with minimal privacy concerns.
Advertising feels less intrusive thanks to the reward structure. Users perceive ads as a functional part of their gaming experience. Nonetheless, Discord takes the community's preferences into account: those who do not want personalized ads can disable them.
What advertisers can do
Marketers benefit from complete viewer attention. Advertisements are only played when the user remains active. Thanks to interest-based targeting, there are few distractions and relevance increases. Data usage remains limited to behavior and interests within the platform.
The response from the community ultimately determines the success of this advertising approach. If engagement remains high and users accept this new format, Discord will eventually offer an attractive channel for brands seeking impactful visibility.
Conclusion
Discord is moving towards the advertising ecosystem without compromising its community-driven foundation. For businesses, this is the moment to experiment with a new channel that promises attention, relevance, and control over privacy.