Discord has unveiled Nitro Rewards, a new perk that gives subscribers access to the basic tier of Xbox Game Pass, including over 50 PC and Xbox games, for no extra cost. Alongside this, Nitro Rewards offer discounts on gaming hardware from brands like Logitech G, SteelSeries, and KontrolFreek.

The move comes as part of Discord’s strategy to retain users by providing more value, with Stanislav Vishnevskiy, co-founder and CTO, stating the initiative is “about doubling down on that” while thanking subscribers for their support. Nitro Rewards are available to both Nitro Basic ($2.99 per month) and Nitro ($9.99 per month) subscribers.

As Discord expands its role beyond a chat platform for gamers, it now serves as a hub for various communities ranging from crypto users to activists. With over 90 million daily active users, the company faces challenges in maintaining online safety and has started preparing age-verification measures to combat lawsuits regarding children’s safety.

The question remains: will this new initiative alienate free users or strengthen the loyalty of paying subscribers? Only time will tell as Discord navigates its path towards a more integrated gaming ecosystem.