If you've noticed more Quests popping up in Discord, get ready for more. On 29 September 2026, Discord announced it's opening advertising to "brands of all sizes," and that means more Discord ads are on the way.
There are two big pieces. Ads Manager is a new tool that lets advertisers buy campaigns themselves. And a new kind of Video Quest is built for phones, paying you Orbs after about 15 seconds of watching.
So is this bad news or a better deal? Below: what Discord announced, when it reaches you, what's in it for users, and how to cut down promotions you don't want.
At a glance - Announced: 29 September 2026 - Ads Manager: select advertisers now, fully self-serve "planned for early 2027" - New Video Quests: mobile-first, earn Orbs after about 15 seconds - Video Quests Reserve: the original Video Quests, now a premium product for big brand campaigns - Discord's numbers: more than 90 million daily users, and a 97% median completion rate for Quests - Your controls: hide single Quests, or turn off personalized Quest promotions
📢 What Discord Announced
In its press release, Discord called Ads Manager its "first-ever campaign management platform." It covers forecasting, campaign setup and reporting in one place.
Discord's announcement of Ads Manager and the new Video Quests. Image: Discord.
Until now, most brands needed a direct sales deal with Discord to advertise, The Next Web reports. Ads Manager uses auction-based pricing, so smaller game studios can bid for space too.
"We want advertising on Discord to work for a studio launching its first game just as well as it does" for big brands, said Nabib El-Rahman, Discord's VP of Product, Business.
📱 The New 15-Second Video Quests
This is the part you'll actually see. Discord describes the new Video Quests as a "mobile-first, performance-focused rewarded video ad format."
How it works for you:
- Tap a Video Quest.
- Watch for about 15 seconds.
- Earn Orbs.
The older Video Quests aren't going away. They're becoming Video Quests Reserve, a premium option for big brand campaigns, where rewards are tied to watching the full video.
Quests follow the same pattern: accept, play or watch, then claim. Image: Discord.
For a full rundown of how Quests pay out, see our guide to Discord Quests, free Orbs and avatar decorations.
🔮 What Orbs Are Worth
Orbs are Discord's reward currency. The Orbs FAQ says you earn them by completing Quests and spend them in the Shop, including on Nitro credits.
Orbs can be spent on Orbs-exclusive items in the Shop. Image: Discord.
A few things to know:
- Nitro members earn more. There's a 1.2x Orb multiplier on eligible Quests.
- Purchases are final. Orb purchases can't be refunded.
- Limits apply. Orbs can't be used for gifts, partner-branded items or recurring subscriptions.
If short videos mean faster Orbs, that's a real upside. Our guide on how to get Nitro with Orbs shows what they can buy.
🧠 What More Discord Ads Mean for Users
More Quests, more often. Opening ads to smaller studios means more advertisers, so expect more Quests, especially on mobile.
More game discovery. Smaller studios are the main target. You may see more indie games, not just big releases.
More data-driven ads. Auction pricing works best when advertisers can measure results. Discord says advertisers can target impressions and clicks now, with more goals planned.
Ads are still low-key, for now. Discord began showing ads in 2024, and The Next Web notes they've stayed fairly low-key so far, mostly small pop-ups and sidebar cards. Discord co-founder Stanislav Vishnevskiy told Engadget last year: "I'm definitely the one who's constantly bringing up enshittification."
Whether that stays true as ads scale up is the big question.
🙈 How to See Fewer Quest Promotions
You can't turn Quests off completely, but Discord's Quests FAQ offers two controls.
Hide a single Quest:
- Select the three dots on the Quest promotion.
- Choose Hide This.
Hide This stops that Quest's promotion from showing again in that spot. Image: Discord.
Turn off personalized promotions:
- Open User Settings > Data & Privacy.
- Turn off Use my Discord activity to personalize Sponsored Content and Use third-party data to personalize Sponsored Content.
You'll still see some promotions, but they "won't be based on your activity on Discord." You can still find every Quest in Quest Home.
Personalized Quest promotions are controlled in Data & Privacy. Image: Discord.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Discord adding more ads?
Yes, most likely. Discord is opening its ad tools to brands of all sizes, with self-serve access planned for early 2027.
What is Discord Ads Manager?
It's Discord's new tool for advertisers to plan, buy and track campaigns. It uses auction-based pricing.
How do the new Video Quests work?
You tap, watch for about 15 seconds and earn Orbs. They're designed for mobile.
Can I turn off Discord ads?
Not entirely. You can hide individual Quest promotions and turn off personalized promotions in Data & Privacy.
When will I see more Discord ads?
Ads Manager is live for select advertisers now. Full self-serve access is planned for early 2027.
🎮 The Bottom Line
More Discord ads are coming, and the 15-second Video Quests are how most people will notice. The trade-off is clear: you get Orbs faster, and advertisers get an easier way in.
For now, Discord's ads are still easy to ignore, and you have some controls over what you see. Watch how often Quests appear as smaller studios join in 2027.
Would you watch more 15-second ads for Orbs, or does Discord already have enough Quests?
Sources
- Discord: Discord Opens Advertising to Brands of All Sizes With Ads Manager and Video Quests, 29 September 2026
- The Next Web: Discord opens its ad business to smaller brands, October 2026
- Discord Help Center: Discord Orbs FAQ, updated 5 October 2026
- Discord Help Center: Quests FAQ, updated 31 August 2026
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