Discord News & Platform Updates: August 2026 Overview

Discord evolves constantly with feature rollouts, platform policy adjustments, and performance patches. Keeping track of these updates ensures your server leverages the newest capabilities while staying compliant with regional regulations.

📰 The 4 Pillars of Current Platform News

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📁 1. Media & File Uploads    →  Free upload limit doubled back up to 20MB
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🎮 2. Cross-Platform Gaming   →  Official Battle.net guild chat bridging
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🎨 3. Client Customization      →  WYSIWYG bio editors, private profiles, and Meta Quest support
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⚖️ 4. Safety & Regulation     →  Compliance actions and regional streaming suspensions

1. Free File Upload Limit Doubled to 20MB

Discord officially walked back a restriction introduced two years prior by doubling the free file upload limit.

Key Details:

The New Cap: Unsubscribed free users can now upload files up to 20MB directly (up from the previous 10MB limit).
Mobile Compression Nuance: Desktop clients measure files prior to upload validation, while mobile versions (iOS and Android) check uncompressed files, meaning mobile users may hit limits slightly faster on raw media.

2. Official World of Warcraft (Battle.net) Integration

Discord partnered with Blizzard to bridge in-game communication directly into community servers.

How It Works:

Synced Guild Chat: Connecting your Battle.net account allows text messages from Discord channels to sync automatically with World of Warcraft guild chats, bridging communities across platforms.
Setup Path: Navigate to User Settings → Connected Apps, select Battle.net, and authorize the connection to link your guild presence.

3. Client Customization & Interface Updates

Recent August client changes introduced streamlined navigation options and quality-of-life upgrades:

WYSIWYG Bio Editor: Desktop clients now feature a rich text formatting editor for profile bios, removing the need to manually code Markdown.
Private Profiles: Users can set profile visibility to "Private," restricting details to friends only or smaller custom circles.
Game Mentions (@game): Typing @game on desktop allows you to search for any official game profile and embed rich interactive game cards directly into chat.
Meta Quest Support: Discord is officially available on Meta Quest VR headsets, allowing users to pin the application inside their virtual environment.

4. Regulatory Developments in Brazil (Go Live Suspension)

Brazil’s National Data Protection Authority (ANPD) ordered Discord to temporarily suspend its "Go Live" livestreaming and video-sharing features nationwide.

Regulatory Context:

Safety Investigations: The regulatory action follows safety investigations regarding child protection protocols on streaming features.
Platform Status: Discord remains accessible textually in the region, but live video transmission features are restricted until the company implements additional safety compliance measures requested by authorities.

Common News Tracking Mistakes

Assuming Mobile Upload Limits Match Desktop: Forgetting that mobile apps measure files differently, leading to unexpected upload errors for users sending uncompressed media.
Missing Feature Rollouts: Assuming new additions like WYSIWYG profile editors are automatic before updating desktop client applications to the latest Electron build.
Ignoring Regional Feature Restrictions: Failing to account for local regulatory changes (such as regional streaming suspensions) when running global community events.

Platform Update Checklist

☐ Desktop application updated to the latest Electron build to access new formatting tools
☐ Battle.net connected via User Settings for synced guild communication
☐ Profile privacy and bio settings reviewed under the updated UI layout
☐ Free file upload limits communicated to community members sharing media clips
☐ Regional platform announcements monitored for safety and compliance changes

Frequently Asked Questions

Did Nitro upload limits change alongside the free tier increase?

No. Nitro subscribers maintain their existing higher upload caps (up to 500MB), while the update specifically doubles the limit for unsubscribed free users from 10MB to 20MB.

How do I access the new WYSIWYG bio editor?

Open your user profile on the desktop client; the rich text formatting toolbar will appear automatically when editing your bio, bypassing manual Markdown coding.