Discord

Discord
source
Name	Discord
Developer	Discord Inc.
Released	13 May 2015
Platform	Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, web browsers
Genre	VoIP, instant messaging, social media, digital distribution
License	Proprietary software

Discord. It is a proprietary VoIP, instant messaging, and digital distribution platform designed for creating communities, initially popular among video game players. The service, developed by Discord Inc., allows users to communicate via voice calls, video calls, text messaging, media, and files in private chats or as part of communities known as "servers." Since its launch, it has expanded far beyond its gaming origins to be used by a wide variety of communities, educational institutions, and businesses, becoming a significant platform in online culture.

History

The platform was founded by Jason Citron and Stanislav Vishnevskiy, who had previously worked on the social gaming platform OpenFeint. Citron sold OpenFeint to the Japanese corporation GREE, Inc. in 2011 for $104 million, which funded the development of a new game development studio, Hammer & Chisel. The studio's 2014 game, *Fates Forever*, was not commercially successful, but its development highlighted the poor quality of existing VoIP tools used by the team, such as Skype and TeamSpeak. This frustration led to the pivot to creating a modern, user-friendly chat service, which entered open beta in 2015 and officially launched to the public. Significant early growth was fueled by communities from Reddit and the game League of Legends, and it gained further traction during the COVID-19 pandemic as a tool for remote communication. In 2020, the company rebuffed a $12 billion acquisition offer from Microsoft, and in 2021, it was reported that Sony had made a minority investment.

Features

The platform is organized around persistent invitation-based servers, which are structured into text and voice channels. Core features include low-latency voice chat, video calls with screen sharing capabilities, and text-based channels. It supports rich embeds, file sharing, and integration with other services like YouTube, Spotify, and Twitch. A key feature is its support for bots, automated programs that can perform moderation, play music, or run games, often created by users via the Discord API. The Nitro subscription service offers enhanced features such as higher quality streaming, custom emojis, and larger file uploads. The interface is available as a standalone desktop application for Microsoft Windows, macOS, and Linux, as well as a mobile app for Android and iOS devices.

Usage and communities

While initially adopted by esports teams and players of games like Fortnite and Minecraft, its use has diversified enormously. It is now a hub for a vast array of interests, including anime, cryptocurrency, stock trading, education, and fan fiction. Many content creators on YouTube and Twitch use it to build and manage their fan communities. It has also been used for organizing events, such as virtual classes during the COVID-19 pandemic, hackathons, and book clubs. The platform's server structure allows for communities ranging from small, private groups to massive public servers with hundreds of thousands of members, such as those for popular games like Among Us or franchises like Star Wars.

Business model

The company, Discord Inc., is primarily funded through its optional subscription service, Nitro, which offers users cosmetic and functional enhancements. Additional revenue streams include a game storefront, briefly operated as the Discord Store, and partnerships with game developers for distribution and promotional activities, such as server boosting programs. The firm has also engaged in venture capital funding rounds, with investors including Greylock Partners, Index Ventures, and Tencent. Despite its large user base, the company has prioritized growth and user experience over immediate profitability for much of its history, focusing on maintaining a free core service.

Reception and impact

The platform has been widely praised for its audio quality, intuitive interface, and reliability compared to older services like TeamSpeak or Ventrilo. It has received awards, including the Crunchies Award for "Best Overall Startup" in 2016. However, it has also faced significant criticism and scrutiny. Issues include the platform's use by extremist groups such as the Proud Boys and Boogaloo movement for organization, leading to actions like the removal of servers associated with the 2021 United States Capitol attack. There are ongoing concerns about cybercrime, the spread of misinformation, and the safety of younger users, prompting collaborations with organizations like the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. Its role in modern internet culture is substantial, influencing how online communities form and communicate, and it has been cited as a competitor to services like Slack and Telegram. Category:VoIP software Category:Social networking services Category:Instant messaging clients Category:2015 software