Discord launches Nitro Rewards, giving subscribers access to the base tier of Xbox Game Pass for no extra cost

Source: TechCrunch

What is Nitro?

Nitro provides upgrades to Discord itself, such as more profile customization options, HD streaming, and the ability to upload files up to 500 MB. The subscription is optional; the platform remains fully usable without paying, which is an intentional design choice by Discord.

“Nitro has always been about how we can meaningfully upgrade the Discord experience, but not limit it [for free users] in any large way,” — Stanislav Vishnevskiy, Discord’s co‑founder and CTO (TechCrunch).

Nitro Rewards

Nitro Rewards is available to both Nitro Basic ($2.99/month) and Nitro ($9.99/month) subscribers. The program aims to increase value for subscribers and improve retention.

Xbox Game Pass Access

At launch, Nitro Rewards provides access to the base tier of Xbox Game Pass, which includes:

• More than 50 PC and Xbox games (e.g., Fallout 4, Stardew Valley, Day Z)
• 10 hours of cloud gaming, allowing you to stream games from a PC or Xbox to other devices

Discounts on Gaming Hardware

Subscribers receive rotating discounts of 15 %–30 % on gaming hardware from partners such as:

• Logitech G
• SteelSeries
• KontrolFreak

Discord plans to add more partners over time.

Business Perspective

“Nitro is the biggest contributor to Discord revenue, and it’s been growing healthily year on year,” said Vishnevskiy. “This is about doubling down on that and providing you more value again… It’s honestly a big thank you to [subscribers] for supporting us. But also from a business perspective, it’s better retention on subscription as well, because people have more value for it.”

Discord’s Broader Role

Originally conceived as a chat platform for gamers, Discord now serves as a community hub for a wide range of users—including crypto enthusiasts, local craft‑night organizers, activists, and the tech community. The platform boasts over 90 million daily active users.

Safety and Regulatory Challenges

With its growing exposure, Discord must address complex online safety issues similar to those faced by larger platforms. The company is preparing to roll out age‑verification measures amid ongoing lawsuits and legal actions concerning children’s online safety.