Discord, the popular chat platform that plays host to 150 million users, Today announced the plans to get into the video game sales business.
Starting as a beta program, the new store will offer gamers the chance to buy games, or if they are Nitro paid subscribers, have access to a free games library. At this time, the current game partners for this new venture includes THQ and Deep Silver, both members of the THQ Nordic family of companies.
The new store, according to the press release, will not take the same approach Steam has to its store, and instead will focus on a “curated game store experience.” A move that will please many people frustrated with the level of shovelware and asset flips currently clogging the Steam Store.
As the store expands, Discord outlines that they will “rely on our community and our team to make the store feel super personal and focused on games that we genuinely think you’ll enjoy.” At present, the store includes such games as Frost Punk, Dead Cells, and Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire.
The Beta will start in Canada on Thursday with 50,000 select Discord users. Those who are selected will gain access to the new Nitro Games library, along with having the ability to buy games from the new storefront. There is no word at this time how long the beta will run, or when it will expand beyond the Canadian borders.
This move combined with the games library feature, further push against Steams dominance on the PC space. It is hard to say at this time if Discord will be the company to finally topple Steam, but with its user base, and feature set, it will be interesting to see how it all plays out. More competition on the PC platform is always a good thing and could lead Value to finally dealing with the low-quality game problem currently plaguing Steam. At this time Discord, Nitro costs $4.99 monthly, or 49.99 yearly, making the new games library, depending on the games on offer, a fantastic value.
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