Discord: Why the app matters to gamers, streamers and others – Times of India

In the gaming community, Discord is an app that connects millions of gamers. From features like video chats, ease of sharing and others, Discord has reportedly a quarter billion users worldwide. However, over the last one year or so, Discord has become more than a place for gamers. Wondering what Discord is and how it really works? Read on:

What is Discord?

Primarily a platform for gamers and streamers, Discord is an app that lets friends/acquaintances communicate with each other. Users can connect through voice/video calls or text. Discord has a large number of servers where groups and communities can come together and interact.

How to use and join Discord?

One of the main reasons why Discord is popular is that it offers cross platform support. You can integrate it with your Xbox account or your Playstation account and it works seamlessly. Using Discord is really easy — you can start using it on your desktop browser. Or you can download the free app, which is available for iOS, Android, Windows, macOS and even Linux.
Once you are in the app, you will join a server, which is made up channels through which members can connect with each other. You can either join a server through an invite, by searching one or by creating your own.

How do servers work on Discord?

Servers and channels in the app or browser appear on the left side whereas server members are shown on the right. A user can join up to 100 servers on Discord. You have the option create nicknames for each server you join. Servers have the option of inviting friends or you can add them as well. Do note that friends don’t need to be a part of the same server to communicate with each other on Discord.
A server can have up to 2.5 lakh members and these servers are further divided into categories and channels. The maximum number of categories in a server is 50 whereas the maximum number of channels is 500.

How does using Discord make it better for gamers?

Discord comes in really handy if one has to manage a large number of gamers. Once a server is made, you can create channels specific for games or genres and then give users different levels of access permissions. This ensures that a large number of users don’t end up being part of a huge message thread or heavily populate the voice-chat channels.

How is it helpful for streamers?

Unlike other platforms like Twitch, Discord is a more ‘complete’ platform. You can end up watching a streamer and at the same time interact with ans on the Discord channel. For streamers, it acts more than a chat window, which is the case on Twitch.
How useful is Discord for non-gamers
In the last one year, Discord has been attempting to become more than a platform for gamers. Discord is used to advertise communities for dance classes or book clubs. Reportedly, Discord is being used by teens for studying as well as watching Netflix. People use Discord for all kinds of hanging out as per the app. This can range from live karaoke nights, to screenshare group painting, to virtual wedding parties.