Discord Introduces Seamless In-Game Purchases and Gifting Features
In a strategic move to enhance user engagement and diversify revenue streams, Discord has unveiled new commerce features that allow users to purchase in-game items directly within the platform. This development eliminates the need for gamers to exit Discord to acquire digital goods, streamlining the gaming experience.
Announced on December 2, 2025, these features enable users to create wishlists for game items and send in-game gifts through direct messages. This integration not only enriches the user experience but also opens new monetization avenues for game developers by providing access to a broader audience beyond their existing communities.
The initial rollout is in collaboration with the popular video game Marvel Rivals, which now boasts a dedicated store page within its official Discord server. Marvel Rivals achieved remarkable success, attracting 10 million players within 72 hours of its release last year and generating over $100 million in its first month. The game has also cultivated a robust community of more than 4 million members on Discord.
Players can now browse and purchase in-game items such as bundles, costumes, emotes, and emojis directly from the Marvel Rivals server. Additionally, the wishlist feature allows users to curate desired items that friends can view and purchase as gifts. With the holiday season approaching, this functionality simplifies gift-giving for those looking to buy for gamer friends or family members. Moreover, the ability to gift in-game items through direct messages enables users to send gifts to friends, even if they don’t play Marvel Rivals themselves.
Currently, the shop accepts U.S. currency and is available exclusively on the desktop app for players in the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Ireland, and Oceania. Discord is considering expanding support to additional regions in the future.
This initiative aligns with Discord’s broader strategy to enhance its platform’s functionality and user engagement. Earlier this year, Discord launched the Social SDK, a free toolkit that allows developers to leverage the platform’s social infrastructure to enhance their games’ social and multiplayer experiences. The SDK offers features such as a unified friends list, deep-linked game invites, and cross-platform messaging, making it easier for players to stay connected both in and out of the game.
In July 2025, Discord introduced ‘Orbs,’ a virtual reward system designed to encourage user interaction with ads. Users earn Orbs by completing Quests, which involve engaging with ads for products or games to obtain virtual items. These Orbs can be redeemed for digital items in Discord’s Shop, including Nitro credits, profile badges, profile effects, and avatar decorations. During the seven-week beta period, millions of Orbs were earned and spent, indicating strong user interest in virtual rewards.
To address parental concerns, Discord updated its Family Center in November 2025, providing guardians with more insights into their teens’ usage patterns. The update includes monitoring of weekly purchases, top interactions, and time spent on the platform. Guardians can now see total purchases made by their teens in the last week, including items from Discord’s Shop and Nitro subscriptions. Additionally, they can view the total time spent on voice and video calls and the top five users and servers their teens interacted with over the past seven days.
These developments reflect Discord’s commitment to creating a more integrated and user-friendly platform. By enabling in-game purchases and gifting within the platform, Discord not only enhances the gaming experience but also provides developers with new opportunities to monetize their content. As Discord continues to evolve, it remains focused on balancing user engagement with responsible monetization strategies.
