Discord Nitro Subscribers Now Get Xbox Game Pass for Free via "Nitro Rewards"
Discord and Xbox have officially teamed up to launch a new "starter edition" of Xbox Game Pass, bundled directly into Discord Nitro memberships at no extra cost. The announcement, which was made on Monday, May 11th, 2026, marks the debut of Nitro Rewards, a fresh perks program designed to celebrate the platform’s 10th anniversary by adding value to its $9.99 monthly subscription.
The move follows a series of strategic shifts led by newly appointed Xbox CEO Asha Sharma, who took over in February. Under Sharma's leadership, Xbox has been working to "evolve how we work and how we are organized across our platform" to better connect with the gaming community.
The new Game Pass tier is a streamlined version of the service, closely mirroring the "Essential" catalog. It features a rotating library of over 50 acclaimed titles, including:
Fan Favorites: Stardew Valley, Hades, DayZ, and Cities: Skylines.
Heavy Hitters: Fallout 4, Doom Eternal, Gears 5, and Dishonored 2.
Co-op Hits: Grounded, Deep Rock Galactic, and Overcooked 2.
Beyond the library, Nitro members gain 10 hours of Xbox Cloud Gaming per month, allowing them to stream titles to various devices instantly. Discord spokesperson Lu Zhang noted that the addition aims to help players discover games without the "friction" of buying titles that end up sitting unplayed in a library.
The partnership is part of a broader "Nitro Rewards" program that offers more than just digital games. Subscribers can now access rotating discounts from major hardware brands:
Logitech G: Up to 30% off.
SteelSeries: 15% off.
KontrolFreek: 20% off.
Nitro members will also receive 250 Discord Orbs—the app's virtual currency—automatically each month, along with a 1.2x multiplier for completing in-app Quests.
The deal isn't one-sided; Xbox Game Pass subscribers will also receive Discord-themed perks later this month, including their own monthly Orb allowance and Shop discounts.
Discord co-founder and CTO Stanislav Vishnevskiy described the program as both a "big thank you" to long-term supporters and a strategic business move to improve retention. While Discord has grown to over 90 million daily active users across diverse communities, from activists to local hobbyists, Nitro remains its primary revenue driver.
The rollout is currently underway for Nitro subscribers in 27 countries, though users on the "Nitro Basic" or "Nitro Classic" plans are not eligible for the new rewards.
