Discord recently celebrated its 10th anniversary, sharing impressive statistics that highlight its evolution from a gamer-focused chat app to a widely used social platform. Launched in 2015, Discord now boasts over 200 million monthly active users, underscoring its significant growth over the past decade.
Gaming remains central to Discord’s identity, with the company reporting that more than 90% of its users engaged in gaming activities across PC, console, or mobile platforms in the past month. The platform sees over 8,000 unique PC games played monthly, reflecting a diverse gaming community. Collectively, users log over 2 billion hours of gameplay each month. Notably, voice calls during gaming sessions tend to last three times longer than solo play, and when friends play together, sessions can extend up to seven times longer, emphasizing the social aspect of gaming on Discord.
Voice channels have become a cornerstone of the Discord experience. Approximately 92% of users engage in gaming while connected to voice chat, blending competition with social interaction. The average voice call includes four participants, highlighting the platform’s emphasis on close-knit communication. Moreover, 28% of users are inspired to play a game within an hour after watching a friend stream it, showcasing Discord’s role in fostering active participation through shared experiences.
Beyond gaming, Discord serves as a digital gathering space for various communities. About 90% of user activity occurs within smaller, tight-knit servers, with individuals typically joining three new communities each month. After gaming sessions, users often continue to engage by watching videos (66%), listening to music (59%), or streaming movies and shows (49%) together. One user noted that Discord helped maintain a weekly gaming tradition with friends spread across vast distances, illustrating the platform’s ability to bridge physical gaps through shared digital experiences.
In a significant leadership change, co-founder and long-time CEO Jason Citron stepped down to become an advisor on Discord’s board. He was succeeded by Humam Sakhnini, a veteran from Activision Blizzard and King, signaling a new phase of growth for the company. This transition has sparked discussions about a potential public offering and the expansion of business ventures, including advertising and developer tools.
However, Discord has also faced challenges. In April, the New Jersey attorney general filed a lawsuit against the company, alleging that it overstated its child safety measures and failed to protect minors from risky direct messages. Discord has contested these claims, asserting its commitment to user safety and its intention to defend itself in court.
Additionally, to comply with stricter online safety regulations in the UK and Australia, Discord has begun testing face-scan age verification methods. Users are offered a one-time facial scan or the option to upload an ID to access sensitive content. While these measures aim to enhance safety, they have raised privacy concerns among some users.