Discord Orbs: Virtual Rewards Officially Launch

Discord Launches Public Beta of Virtual Reward System: Orbs

Following an initial announcement in late May regarding testing of a novel virtual reward mechanism, Discord has now made it available to all users.

These rewards, designated as Orbs, are designed to incentivize greater engagement with interactive advertisements.

How Orbs Work

Orbs are acquired by users through the completion of Quests. These Quests necessitate interaction with advertisements for various products and games, ultimately granting virtual items.

Accumulated Orbs can then be exchanged for digital goods within Discord’s integrated Shop.

• Available items include a three-day Nitro credit.
• Users can also redeem Orbs for an Orb-themed profile badge.
• Profile effects and avatar decorations are also offered.
• A variety of other digital enhancements are available.

According to Discord, the Orb system proved highly successful during its beta phase. Millions of Orbs were both earned and redeemed over the seven-week testing period.

Impact of the Beta Program

Data released by the company indicates a significant surge in first-time purchases within the Shop – a 16-fold increase.

Notably, 79% of participants in the Orb program had not previously made any purchases on the platform.

Strategic Implications for Discord

Discord is reportedly evaluating a potential Initial Public Offering (IPO). Demonstrating a viable and scalable advertising model is crucial for attracting potential investors.

Orbs are being presented to advertisers as a streamlined method for initiating Quest campaigns, eliminating the need for independent reward creation.

Attracting New Users and Nitro Subscribers

The Orb experiment is also intended to encourage users who do not currently subscribe to Nitro to explore its benefits. Orbs provide a pathway to acquire Nitro credits.

However, the impact on overall Nitro subscription rates remains uncertain. While Discord declined to provide specific data, they did confirm that 70% of Orb participants were not existing members.