Discord is releasing a Social SDK, a free tool for game developers that integrates the platform’s renowned social features directly into their games. The announcement was made at the annual Game Developers Conference (GDC) in San Francisco.
“While the industry continues to face hard challenges, GDC stays strong as a place where the most passionate, creative minds from across the world come together and connect over their love of games,” said Stanislav Vishnevskiy, CTO and Co-Founder of Discord.
The Discord Social SDK aims to empower game developers of all sizes by allowing them to incorporate Discord’s social functionalities, enhancing multiplayer experiences and player connectivity.
Key features of the Discord Social SDK
The SDK – compatible with games built using C++, Unreal Engine, and Unity – currently supports Windows 11+ and macOS, with console and mobile support planned for future releases. It leverages the same technology used by Discord’s over 200 million monthly active users.
- Unified friends list: This feature consolidates Discord and in-game friends lists, enabling players to stay connected across platforms.
- Deeplink game invites: Players can send direct invites from their in-game friends list to Discord friends, facilitating seamless party, lobby, and session joins.
- Rich presence: This displays a player’s gaming activity on their Discord profile, enabling one-click game joins and increasing game visibility.
- Flexible account requirements: Players can enjoy unified social experiences without needing a Discord account, though account linking is available for enhanced engagement.
Discord is also offering a closed beta for developers seeking advanced features:
- Cross-platform messaging: Seamless communication between in-game and Discord users, even those without Discord accounts.
- Linked channels: In-game chat can be linked to specific Discord channels, fostering persistent communities.
- Discord voice chat: Integration of Discord’s voice chat into games.
A developer-first strategy
This release follows Discord’s ongoing efforts to enhance its developer ecosystem, including the introduction of Discord Activities and Quests. Discord aims to provide developers with comprehensive tools for building, launching, and engaging with their player communities.
Andrew Johnston, Staff Software Engineer at Theorycraft Games, said: “The Discord SDK makes social features like direct messaging, lobbies, and session invites easy. Provisional accounts help us deliver this value to all of our players.”
Discord claims that players who linked their accounts saw a 65% increase in playtime and a 25% higher frequency of active days.
“We’ll continue to invest in helping developers drive discovery and get people in their games, including through Quests, our innovative advertising format,” Stanislav Vishnevskiy, CTO and Co-Founder of Discord.
The Social SDK represents another milestone in Discord’s strategy to integrate its platform directly into the gaming experience, fostering deeper social connections and driving player engagement.
(Image credit: Discord)
See also: GDC: NVIDIA showcases how AI is transforming gaming
Looking to revamp your digital transformation strategy? Learn more about Digital Transformation Week taking place in Amsterdam, California, and London. The comprehensive event is co-located with IoT Tech Expo, AI & Big Data Expo, Cyber Security & Cloud Expo, and other leading events.
Explore other upcoming enterprise technology events and webinars powered by TechForge here.
