discord Discord Update: September 26, 2024 Changelog (opens in new tab)
Discord’s September 2024 update centers on transforming the platform into a more interactive entertainment hub while significantly hardening its security infrastructure. By centralizing third-party integrations through a new App Launcher and implementing end-to-end encryption for audio and video, the platform aims to balance expanded developer functionality with robust user privacy. ### The App Launcher and Interactive Activities * The newly launched App Launcher is now available across desktop and mobile, allowing users to search, browse curated collections, and add thousands of apps directly to their accounts for use in chats and voice calls. * Four new Activities have been integrated: *Arena Kingdoms* for cross-server battles, *Echo Chess* for daily puzzles, the Viking-themed *Battletabs*, and the social-focused *Magic Circle*. * New image-editing capabilities allow users to hover over chat images to access the App Launcher for quick modifications, such as adding captions or using Viggle’s “Animate” command to generate motion from static photos. * The developer ecosystem has been expanded to allow third parties to build, launch, and monetize their own Activities, with options to opt-in to platform-wide discovery via the launcher. ### Security and Privacy Enhancements * End-to-End Encryption (E2EE) is being introduced for all audio and video communication, including DMs, Group DMs, voice channels, and Go Live streams, ensuring that stream data is accessible only to participants. * Support for Passkeys has been implemented, allowing users to replace traditional passwords with biometric authentication such as Face ID or Touch ID. * Passkey technology remains localized to the user's device, ensuring that Discord does not have access to sensitive biometric data. ### Platform Performance and Community Resources * Discord’s engineering team reported a significant performance milestone, reducing iOS application crashes by 84%. * The "Discord Dojo" initiative has launched to provide educational content, including videos and blogs focused on message formatting and advanced keybinds for power users. * A new partnership with *Street Fighter 6* introduces themed shop items and a specific Quest that rewards users with a "Battle Field" decoration for their profiles. To maintain the highest level of account safety, users should consider migrating to Passkeys and verifying the encryption status during their next voice or video call. For those looking to increase engagement within their servers, the App Launcher provides a low-friction way to introduce collaborative games and media tools directly into existing conversations.