Discord, the popular gaming-focused chat platform, has announced plans to introduce its first mobile advertising experience. Starting June 2025, the platform will roll out Video Quests - a reward-based advertising format - to its mobile application.
The mobile advertising system will feature a "Quest bar" at the bottom of users' screens, which can be either dismissed or tapped to access dedicated Quest content. Users who choose to engage with these advertisements can earn rewards like avatar decorations and in-game items after watching video content.
Peter Sellis, Discord's product leader, emphasized that this mobile expansion represents a natural progression in the company's strategy to build an authentic, player-focused advertising platform.
The introduction follows successful implementations on PC and gaming consoles last year. Early advertising partners have included major gaming franchises such as Diablo, Street Fighter, World of Warcraft, and Genshin Impact. Non-gaming companies have also utilized the format, with Warner Bros. Discovery's Max streaming service reporting an 85% completion rate for their two-minute Dune: Prophecy trailer.
Discord maintains user control over the advertising experience, allowing mobile users to hide specific Quest promotions or opt out of personalized content entirely, similar to options available on other platforms.
This mobile advertising launch comes as Discord, which serves 200 million monthly active users, faces industry speculation about a potential initial public offering. The company, last valued at approximately $15 billion in 2021, previously explored acquisition talks with Microsoft that did not materialize.
The expansion marks a notable shift for Discord, which historically generated revenue primarily through user subscriptions rather than advertising. With Video Quests now extending to mobile devices, the platform aims to create new opportunities for businesses while maintaining its user-centric approach.