Discord launches new shop, activities, and new Nitro Basic subscription

A massive win came for Discord users today, as the beacon of communication is expanding with a new shop, some new client-based activities, and a new affordable subscription service. In fact, the new activities will feature YouTube integration, allowing you and your friends to watch YouTube videos together while in the same call, or even play games like Chess or Poker.

First off, the new Nitro Basic subscription is another subscription level that players can purchase for $2.99 USD a month. It’s a cheaper alternative to the current Discord Nitro, which can be purchased for $9.99 USD a month or $49.99 USD a year. Nitro Basic is a simplistic service, only allowing you to use custom emojis and upload files of up to 50 MB (of course, most people probably want the emojis). For comparison, Nitro Classic gives you animated avatars, a discount on server boosts, and screen sharing of up to 1080p and up to 60 FPS.

Hanging out

The big highlight of the update, however, are the additions coming to voice chat with the new Activities feature. As mentioned, this system will allow you to watch videos with Discord members while in the app. You’ll be able to create a playlist, and friends will have to manually join the feature to watch alongside you. The new activities feature also has some small party games, such as a mini-golf game. However, you will reportedly need Discord Nitro for other games like poker and chess. Only one person will need Discord Nitro to access these, though.

Discord admins can also view an App Directory, allowing you to find bots and ease the process of starting a new server. The company is even experimenting with Premium App Subscriptions, allowing developers to sell premium features of their apps through Discord itself. This feature will roll out later in the future, but for now, we can look forward to an even more interactive Discord experience with friends.