

With a new app just released earlier this year, the investment is going smoothly. With console manufacturers seeing the value in adopting that community, PlayStation quickly put a sizable stake into Discord. Whether it’s through TeamSpeak, Skype, or now Discord, the technology has evolved. While services have fallen in and out of popularity over the years, many mainstays have arisen. Voice over IP has been at the forefront of online PC gaming for as long as possible. Whether through Xbox Live groups or PlayStation parties, the core technology is all the same. From the beginning of online console gaming, voice chat has been integral to the experience. If you're in the mood for a history lesson, you can also check out our feature on Sony's studio acquisitions over the years.Communication has always been a central part of the online gaming experience. With an " aggressive roadmap" towards live service games, Discord integration on PlayStation consoles will be a crucial part of its digital strategy in the future. Sony's shift towards a focus on communal gaming spaces was bolstered by its acquisition of Destiny 2 developer Bungie this week, arguably one of the leading names in video games as a live service. "Our goal is to bring the Discord and PlayStation experiences closer together on console and mobile starting early next year, allowing friends, groups, and communities to hang out, have fun, and communicate more easily while playing together," Sony president Jim Ryan said at the time. When Sony announced its partnership last year, it mentioned a move to focus on PlayStation Network as a hub for social gaming. Discord added that this feature is also great for games that have cross-platform support and organizing a virtual meet-up, in titles such as Destiny 2 or Fortnite for example. PlayStation users will have the option of displaying their PlayStation Network online ID on their profile, giving their Discord associates a chance to add them to their Sony friend's circle. "Once your Discord account is linked, the game you're currently playing on either PS4 or PS5 will be shown as your activity, just like that!" "If you've ever connected your Discord account to another service that allows you to display your activity, it works similarly here," the company explained. Support for additional countries will follow in time, and the process for linking your PlayStation console to the app is designed to be as seamless as possible. Several months after its planned partnership was first announced, messaging platform Discord has confirmed that it is "gradually rolling out" to US users from today.
