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Discord Launches "Orbs" Reward System to Boost Ad Engagement and Monetization Ahead of Possible IPO
July 14, 2025
Discord is officially rolling out its new virtual reward system, Orbs, in an effort to drive user engagement with ads and showcase its monetization potential as it reportedly eyes an IPO.
First announced in late May and tested over a seven-week beta period, Orbs are now available to the public. The concept is simple: users complete Quests—interactive ad campaigns for games or products—and earn Orbs in return. These virtual points can be redeemed in Discord’s Shop for digital items, including a three-day Nitro credit, custom profile effects, avatar decorations, and an exclusive Orb-themed badge.
The system appears to have struck a chord with testers. According to Discord, millions of Orbs were earned and spent during the beta, with a 16x increase in first-time Shop purchases. Notably, 79% of participants had never made a purchase on the platform before.
Beyond engagement, Orbs are a strategic play to bolster Discord’s advertising model. By allowing advertisers to launch Quest campaigns without designing their own rewards, Discord offers a plug-and-play option for brand promotions—positioning Orbs as a streamlined, scalable solution for ad engagement.
The reward system also appears to be a subtle push to convert free users into Nitro subscribers. Though users can redeem Orbs for short-term Nitro perks, it remains unclear whether this tactic has led to a meaningful increase in subscriptions. Discord did not respond to requests for comment, but shared that 70% of Orbs users during testing were not Nitro members—a strong signal that the system is appealing to its non-paying user base.
As Discord continues to explore revenue opportunities and court advertisers, the success of Orbs could become a key talking point in future investor discussions—especially if the IPO rumors materialize.
For now, users can start collecting Orbs by opting into Quests, and advertisers get a new avenue to connect with Discord’s highly engaged community. Whether this gamified ad model will convert long-term remains to be seen—but it’s already reshaping how Discord blends fun with monetization.
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