Discord expands advertising with Ads Manager and Video Quests

Discord is expanding its advertising capabilities through the introduction of Discord Ads Manager and a new mobile-first video format called Video Quests. The Ads Manager serves as the company’s first campaign management platform, allowing advertisers to handle bidding, budgeting, and performance measurement in a single interface. This shift moves the platform away from a reliance on direct sales relationships toward an auction-based model.

Video Quests allow users to voluntarily watch approximately 15-second video advertisements in exchange for virtual currency, known as Orbs. While the format is designed for mobile engagement, Discord also maintains a premium, reservation-based option called Video Quests Reserve, which requires full video completion.

Currently, these tools are available only to a select group of advertisers through managed access. Discord plans to launch a fully self-serve version of the Ads Manager by early 2027, which is intended to democratize access for smaller businesses and game studios that previously lacked the resources to negotiate direct advertising deals with the platform.