Discord is about to blur the line between chatting and gaming. Starting next month, the platform will let users instantly jump into short game sessions without downloading or installing anything, thanks to a new test program with Nvidia’s GeForce Now and Epic Games.
Instant Access Through GeForce Now
The experiment introduces a “Try a Game” button inside Discord servers. When clicked, users can stream a game directly via Nvidia’s cloud service, as long as they link an Epic Games account. The feature is being showcased at Gamescom this week, with Fortnite serving as the first test case.
Nvidia’s product marketing director Andrew Fear summed it up: “You’ll be playing Fortnite in seconds without any downloads or installs.” The catch, for now, is that sessions are limited to 30 minutes.
Why This Matters
The idea of “try-before-you-buy” gaming isn’t new. Sony’s Gaikai and Google’s Stadia both attempted it, but neither gained much traction—largely because publishers hesitated to give players free, commitment-free access to their titles. Nvidia and Discord are betting that easier integration and the right partnerships could finally make the concept stick.
If successful, this feature could lower the barrier to entry for multiplayer hits, letting players test-drive games in the same space they already socialize. For game studios, it could also become a powerful marketing tool, giving potential buyers a frictionless way to sample their titles.
Still Just a Test
For now, Nvidia stresses this is a technology demo, not a product launch. There’s no timeline on when or if it will expand to other games beyond Fortnite. But with Discord’s massive built-in audience, the experiment could determine whether instant game streaming finally finds a mainstream audience—or goes the way of Stadia.
