Discord launches ‘Orbs’ virtual reward system publicly after successful beta

Discord has officially launched its new virtual reward system called Orbs to the public after a successful seven-week beta test. Orbs are earned by users completing Quests, which involve interacting with interactive ads for products or games. Users can redeem Orbs in Discord’s Shop for various digital items such as three-day Nitro credits, Orb-themed profile badges, avatar decorations, and profile effects. During the beta, millions of Orbs were earned and spent, with data showing a 16-fold increase in first-time purchases in the Shop and 79% of participants being new buyers. The company is positioning Orbs as a scalable advertising model and a simpler way for advertisers to launch Quest campaigns without creating their own rewards. Additionally, Orbs aim to attract non-subscribers to try Discord Nitro by allowing them to redeem Orbs for Nitro credits. Although the impact on Nitro subscriptions remains unclear, 70% of Orbs participants were nonmembers, indicating potential for user engagement growth. Discord is reportedly considering an IPO and hopes to demonstrate the viability of its ad model to potential partners through this initiative.