discordMar 12, 2026

You’re Now Discord Official: Developers, Claim Your Game and Verify Your Server (opens in new tab)

Discord is introducing “Discord Official,” allowing game studios and publishers to claim their game profiles and verify their official Discord servers. Developers can customize profile information, assets, links, and platform details while improving player trust and discoverability. At launch, the program supports playable PC games listed on Steam, including Early Access titles. ## Benefits of Becoming Discord Official - Creates a verified game profile players can trust when searching for or sharing the game. - Lets developers customize: - Game descriptions - Cover, icon, and banner art - Screenshots and other media - Social links, supported platforms, and publisher details - Connects the game profile to its verified Discord server. - Gives the server higher visibility in Discord Discovery. - Helps developers build communities that support updates, feedback, player engagement, and live-service development. - Discord reports more than 10,000 game communities and 80 million members as of December 31, 2025. ## Eligibility Requirements Before applying, developers must have: - A studio-owned Discord server ready for verification. - A playable game listed on Steam. - A Steam store page that links to the game’s Discord server. - A Team in the Discord Developer Portal. - A new or existing Developer Portal application for the game. - The Discord server owner added to the Developer Portal Team, since they must provide a verification code. At launch, only PC games available in Early Access or Full Release are supported. The program is limited to the actual studios and publishers behind the games. ## Claiming a Game and Verifying the Server - Open the game’s application in the Discord Developer Portal. - Select **Game Identity** under **Games**, then choose **Claim Game**. - Search for and select the game. - Complete the Game Claim Verification form. - The server owner receives a verification email and supplies its code. - Submit the application for Discord’s review. ## Ongoing Developer Features After approval, developers can update their game profiles to promote content updates, cosmetic releases, and new seasons. Discord also says it plans to introduce additional tools to make game development, testing, and community management easier. Studios with eligible Steam games should prepare their Developer Portal team, application, and server ownership details before applying through Discord’s **How to Claim Your Game** documentation.

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discordApr 16, 2025

The Game Developer Playbook, Part Two: Early Access and Pre-Launch (opens in new tab)

The post explains how game developers should evolve a Discord server from a private playtest space into a public pre-launch or Early Access community. Its central advice is to define what members should do, create focused spaces for conversation and feedback, and measure meaningful engagement rather than member count alone. The server should remain flexible as the game and community develop. ## Defining the Community’s Purpose - Decide what you want members to do when they visit the server. - Successful communities typically: - Encourage open discussions about trailers, updates, and development decisions. - Build a network of ambassadors and super fans. - Host activities for both small and large groups. - Gather feedback through announcement threads rather than one-way posts. - Help players find others for multiplayer sessions, strategy discussions, and team play. - Members may join for news, feedback opportunities, social connections, or organized events, so the server should support these different needs. ## Designing the Server Structure - Starting early helps developers understand how the community evolves. - A server focused on one game is usually easier to navigate than one covering multiple games or franchises. - Developers moving from a private playtest to a public community may benefit from creating a new server and rewarding playtesters with VIP roles. - The layout should remain experimental and adaptable. ### Categories and Channels - Categories can organize discussions as the community grows, including dedicated support areas. - Every channel should have a clear purpose. - Start with a small number of channels and expand only when necessary. - Use categories and emojis to make channels easier to recognize. ### Roles and Permissions - Administrators should handle major server-wide changes. - Staff roles can provide lighter permissions and access to private operational areas. - Moderators need only the permissions required to enforce rules and manage conversations. - It is easier to add roles and channels later than to remove permissions or undo an overly complex setup. ## Measuring Engagement - A large membership count does not necessarily indicate a successful community. - Discord should function as an ongoing conversation, not merely a broadcast channel. - More useful metrics include: - **Activation and engagement:** Whether new members explore channels or send a message on their first day. - **Communication:** How many members participate in text or voice conversations, measured daily, weekly, or monthly. - **Retention:** Whether new members return and participate again the following week. - Community servers can use Discord’s Server Insights to monitor these measures and other activity data. The practical recommendation is to keep the server focused, lean, and community-oriented. Developers should prioritize meaningful participation, feedback, and member retention while adjusting the server structure as the game and audience grow.

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