Xbox Game Pass & Discord Partnership: New Benefits Explained
By Published May 11, 2026, 1:03 PM EDT Chris is a Gaming Editor at ScreenRant. He has been a professional writer since 2009, and has written for top TV, comics, movie, and video game outlets like Engadget, Polygon, Destructoid, and more. He brings with him an expertise in every game genre, no matter how niche or mainstream.
You may know him as the former Managing/Reviews Editor of Destructoid, where he published hundreds of game reviews across every genre, including MMOs, sports games, and Metroidvanias.
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is heating up in 2026. While things looked bleak overall, especially given the massive price hike a few months ago, Xbox has since reversed course. Following that aforementioned hike, , and is aiming to add more benefits to the program over time.
So far, the game offerings are looking good, too. One of the most notable additions is the presence of Final Fantasy 1, Final Fantasy 2, Final Fantasy 3, Final Fantasy 4, and Final Fantasy 5, . There are a number of first-party games coming soon too, including Forza Horizon 6.
Over on the official , Microsoft detailed a new bonus for subscribers. If you're an Xbox Game Pass member, you'll want to dig into these details, as this benefit is free, and incredibly easy to navigate.
While Discord and Xbox have interfaced at a surface level for a while, Microsoft has announced a whole new partnership this week. Beyond the functionality mentioned above, Discord Nitro will now include a "starter edition of Xbox Game Pass" on its end.
While the phrase "Xbox Game Pass Starter Edition" may sound confusing, it's just a micro version of a membership. Instead of hundreds of games, you'll get roughly 50, as well as "10 hours of cloud gaming." To take advantage of these offers, you'll need to check your Nitro membership homepage.
For Xbox owners, you'll be able to select from a new "play" option, which can instantly put you in a game with someone else.
In addition to that new functionality, you'll also get the following benefits if you're an Xbox Game Pass subscriber:
- 250 Discord Orbs each month
- 1.2x extra Orbs when completing Quests
- Automatically applied Discord Shop discounts
Beyond this scope, Microsoft promises: "We’ll keep working alongside Discord to bring players closer together. We’ll have more to share soon on how eligible Xbox Game Pass subscribers can access these Discord benefits."
On Discord's end, it's offering discounts for Logitech G and SteelSeries devices, as well as a wider distribution of Orbs (currency for Discord).
It's astounding how many moves Microsoft has made recently, especially so soon after a sweeping change in leadership. While the company still has a ways to go to win back some of its lapsed fans, it's a good start so far.
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Joining our newsletter gives detailed breakdowns and step-by-step guidance on the Xbox Game Pass and Discord Nitro partnership, showing how to claim the Starter Edition, link accounts, and make the most of included subscriber perks. Get Updates By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept our and . You can unsubscribe anytime.
For Xbox Game Pass subscribers, you'll want to look into this new promotion and link the appropriate accounts. Plus, be on the lookout for more benefits in the future.
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