• by Colin Kirkland , 3 hours ago

As Discord continues to build its advertising business, the social platform is introducing new in-app ecommerce options for its gaming-centric user base. 

In a recent announcement, Discord writes that it has begun allowing gamers to “find, buy, and gift in-game digital goods from chat, friends’ Wishlists, and directly within official game communities” on the platform.

To introduce the feature, Discord has partnered with “Marvel Rivals,” a leading gaming title from 2024 that is also responsible for a Discord community made up of over 4 million members. 

Within the “Marvel Rivals” community page, players can browse and buy brand-specific gaming skins, costumes, emotes, emojis and more, with the added option to gift each other items via Discord DMs, or purchase items in-game through Discord’s account-linking system.

The ability to sell digital goods may provide game developers with an alternative revenue channel directly on Discord, where gamers have built followings as livestreamers and niche group members. 

Discord’s announcement highlights the ability to gift these items to players and community members as the leading way for developers to increase revenue, as gifting remains at the core of the platform’s current user culture. 

The ability to sell items directly in Discord builds on the company’s recent SDK (software development kit) launch, which aimed to help developers integrate social features directly into their games.

Discord’s “Marvel Rivals” shop is currently accessible to players in the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Ireland, and Oceania, and accepts U.S. currency only.