Discord has officially launched its new virtual reward system, Orbs, designed to make ad interactions more engaging. This innovative approach encourages users to complete Quests by interacting with ads, earning Orbs in return. These Orbs can be redeemed for digital goodies in Discord’s Shop, such as a three-day Nitro credit, specialized profile badges, effects, avatar decorations, and more.
During the seven-week beta phase, Orbs proved to be a hit, with millions earned and spent. One intriguing finding was a 16-fold surge in first-time purchases, with 79% of participants making their inaugural buys. This demonstrates Orbs’ potential to drive user engagement and increase activity in the Shop.
As Discord considers going public, highlighting its scalable ad model is essential. Orbs are being pitched to advertisers as an easy-to-use option for launching Quest campaigns without the need for custom reward systems.
Another strategic angle for Orbs is to entice users who aren’t current subscribers to Nitro. By offering the ability to acquire Nitro credits through Orbs, it’s an attractive lure, though it’s unknown whether this has led to an uptick in Nitro subscriptions. Discord noted that a significant portion, 70%, of Orbs participants were non-subscribers, hinting at a wider reach.
This new system could be a game-changer for Discord, engaging users in fresh ways and showcasing its versatility to investors and partners alike.
