Discord, a well-known platform messaging and voice chat focused on the gaming worldhas confirmed that it will start serving ads this week, a move that will end an era where the service has gone completely ad-free for nine years, a feat that ultimately could not be sustained for much longer.

We have already given you the reason in the title of the ad. Discord is starting to show ads because it needs to improve its revenue, and it’s failing to do so with the current model. The company plans to make this transition to an advertising-based service model successful hire a dozen salespeoplewho will be in charge of the sale of advertising space.

Advertising is long gone mainstay be able to support completely free services, although the income it generates can vary greatly depending on the type of advertisement and the type of service it is associated with, as well as the provider and the specifics of the contract. Either way, it’s a source of income, and that’s what this platform needs.

Discord has confirmed that ads can be disabled in the configuration options, but I imagine this will only be available to those who subscribe to the service in its paid mode, and that it won’t affect those using the free version. According to Peter Selise, vice president of product, ads will be shown in the lower left corner of the screen and these will be customized depending on each player’s age, favorite titles and location.

To make the transition less annoying and to motivate Discord users will offer small rewards for completing certain tasks. The truth is that this move is logical, after all, this service has a huge user base and can use this base to improve its position and income and avoid new layoffs. Remember that Discord recently laid off 17% of its employees.

FYI, in 2021 Microsoft tried to buy Discord for $10 billionbut in the end the latter declined the offer and preferred to remain independent, an attitude it maintains to this day and which does not appear to be changing in the short or medium term.