Discord turns 10 and shares some interesting stats from its first decade

As Discord marks its 10th birthday, the company dropped a fresh batch of numbers that show just how much its users have woven the app into their daily lives. What began in 2015 as a chat tool for gamers has grown into a social hub where more than 200 million people log in each month. That milestone alone speaks to a decade of growth built on voice chats, community servers and shared screens ― not to mention a few surprise turns along the way. 

Gaming still sits at the heart of Discord’s identity. The company says that over 90% of its 200 million monthly active users played a PC, console, or mobile title in the last 30 days. These gamers aren’t just sticking to the classics — Discord sees over 8,000 unique PC games played monthly, showcasing the platform’s diversity in gaming tastes. Collective playtime is staggering: users log over 2 billion hours gaming every month, with voice calls tied to game sessions lasting three times longer than solo play. Even more impressive? When friends team up, gameplay sessions skyrocket to seven times longer — proof that shared victories (and defeats) keep people hooked.

Discord’s voice channels have become the ultimate social catalyst. Beyond coordinating strategies, 92% of users play games while hanging out in voice, blending competition with camaraderie. The average voice call size — just four people — highlights the platform’s focus on intimate, meaningful interactions. And the fun doesn’t stop when the game ends: after watching a friend stream, 28% of users launch that same game within an hour, turning passive viewing into active participation. As one user put it, Discord has “replaced phone calls and texting” for their friend group, cementing its role as a cornerstone of modern communication.

Beyond games, users have turned their servers into digital living rooms. A staggering 90% of activity happens in smaller, tight-knit servers, with the average person joining three communities monthly. Post-gaming, the hangout continues: two-thirds of users stick around to watch videos, 59% queue up music, and 49% dive into movies or shows together. One user shared how Discord helped maintain a weekly gaming tradition despite friends being “hundreds of miles apart,” proving that shared screens and laughter can bridge even the widest distances.

Apart from the official highlights, another note-worthy development was when Jason Citron, Discord’s co-founder and long-time chief executive, stepped aside to become an advisor on the board. He passed the CEO role to Humam Sakhnini, a veteran of Activision Blizzard and King, to shepherd the next chapter of growth. That move sparked chatter about a possible public offering down the line as Discord looks to scale new business lines like advertising and developer tools.

On the flip side, the platform has faced its share of challenges. In mid-April the New Jersey attorney general sued Discord, accusing the company of overstating its child safety features and failing to keep minors from risky direct messages. Discord pushed back, saying it is proud of its ongoing investments in safety tools and plans to defend the case in court.

And in the UK and Australia, Discord has begun testing face-scan age checks to meet tougher online safety laws. Users get a one-time scan or the option to upload an ID to access sensitive content, though privacy advocates worry this could open new risks.

We’ve also been keeping up with some of these recent shifts. Yesterday, we wrote about an odd bug that sent notifications from channels and direct messages users already muted. And we covered the limited rollout of new server tags and gradient roles, another sign that Discord is experimenting with fresh ways to help people show off their style and interests.