> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://discord-member-applications.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Game Friends Design Guidelines

> Design guidelines for displaying and managing game friends and Discord relationships.

<Info>
  Any in-game imagery used in is purely fictional for concept purposes.
</Info>

## User needs

We've heard from players that they want more of a distinction between connections they make in-game, and friends they spend time with on Discord outside of and across games. Someone I party up with may not necessarily be my "friend".

Users want more controls over how in-game relationships extend beyond the game client with communication, presence, and identity.

<img src="https://mintcdn.com/discord-member-applications/uW_HVOHfbVx4esNu/images/social-sdk/design-guidelines/GameFriends-02.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=uW_HVOHfbVx4esNu&q=85&s=5d5ac522ec11a3ae188e4e6575af4fe5" alt="User needs" width="3840" height="2160" data-path="images/social-sdk/design-guidelines/GameFriends-02.png" />

## Game Friends — A new tier

Discord is introducing a new tier of friendship called **Game Friends**.

Game Friends are a way to create an in-game relationship with another player that provides all of the in-game benefits, but limits how the relationship extends outside the game.

<img src="https://mintcdn.com/discord-member-applications/uW_HVOHfbVx4esNu/images/social-sdk/design-guidelines/GameFriends-03.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=uW_HVOHfbVx4esNu&q=85&s=60c949bef284b10c17ffe83e13d06790" alt="Game Friends" width="3840" height="2160" data-path="images/social-sdk/design-guidelines/GameFriends-03.png" />

## Game vs Discord Friends

### Communication

A Game Friend **can reach Discord-connected friends outside the game** by DMing those in the game who are offline — these messages will be received on the Discord client. Discord provides players a setting to disable receiving DMs from Game Friends.

### Presence

A Game Friend **cannot see your rich presence** beyond the game your friendship originated in. The exception is if both friends have their Discord accounts connected and are in a shared server.

<img src="https://mintcdn.com/discord-member-applications/uW_HVOHfbVx4esNu/images/social-sdk/design-guidelines/GameFriends-04.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=uW_HVOHfbVx4esNu&q=85&s=a8d9d1ad4397c034ed66f2577ae938c3" alt="Game vs Discord Friends" width="3840" height="2160" data-path="images/social-sdk/design-guidelines/GameFriends-04.png" />

## Equally-weighted

When adding a new friend, **present two options to players with "Game Friends" listed first**, since it's the more localized/limited friend-tier. Please ensure that neither type of friend is pre-selected in the UI — present them equally to the user (ordering aside for above reasons).

<img src="https://mintcdn.com/discord-member-applications/uW_HVOHfbVx4esNu/images/social-sdk/design-guidelines/GameFriends-05.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=uW_HVOHfbVx4esNu&q=85&s=6dacbb70007f90b1b8b890ee926c6edc" alt="Equally-weighted friend options" width="3840" height="2160" data-path="images/social-sdk/design-guidelines/GameFriends-05.png" />

## Adding friends

If the user is not yet a friend, show both options of adding as either a Game or Discord Friend.

If a user is already your Game Friend, show the action to also add them on Discord.

<img src="https://mintcdn.com/discord-member-applications/uW_HVOHfbVx4esNu/images/social-sdk/design-guidelines/GameFriends-06.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=uW_HVOHfbVx4esNu&q=85&s=1d3da11a5d07637854df6881bc8faeae" alt="Adding friends" width="3840" height="2160" data-path="images/social-sdk/design-guidelines/GameFriends-06.png" />

## Removing friends

When removing a Game Friend or Discord Friend, show players the standard "Remove Friend" action. The SDK will remove the friend across whatever friendships are applicable.

<img src="https://mintcdn.com/discord-member-applications/uW_HVOHfbVx4esNu/images/social-sdk/design-guidelines/GameFriends-07.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=uW_HVOHfbVx4esNu&q=85&s=cde260896a58fcfedf336a63046b5874" alt="Removing friends" width="3840" height="2160" data-path="images/social-sdk/design-guidelines/GameFriends-07.png" />

## Style guidelines

When removing a Game Friend or Discord Friend, show players the standard "Remove Friend" action. The SDK will remove the friend across whatever friendships are applicable.

<img src="https://mintcdn.com/discord-member-applications/uW_HVOHfbVx4esNu/images/social-sdk/design-guidelines/GameFriends-08.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=uW_HVOHfbVx4esNu&q=85&s=c10d561cbebc410dbf52b2f4babcb91d" alt="Removing friends" width="3840" height="2160" data-path="images/social-sdk/design-guidelines/GameFriends-08.png" />

## UX, not UI

The visual styling of the "Add Friend" menu-items is not intended to be prescriptive. So long as both options are equally-weighted, please use whichever UI fits your game's needs.

<img src="https://mintcdn.com/discord-member-applications/uW_HVOHfbVx4esNu/images/social-sdk/design-guidelines/GameFriends-09.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=uW_HVOHfbVx4esNu&q=85&s=bce7b2d45b1cf7aec0d9333e9d8d6d99" alt="UX, not UI" width="3840" height="2160" data-path="images/social-sdk/design-guidelines/GameFriends-09.png" />

## Setting on Discord

This mock showcases how the corresponding DM looks within Discord's UI.

<img src="https://mintcdn.com/discord-member-applications/uW_HVOHfbVx4esNu/images/social-sdk/design-guidelines/GameFriends-10.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=uW_HVOHfbVx4esNu&q=85&s=a9a6f359ecb97ee02e1e71def89da15a" alt="Removing friends" width="3840" height="2160" data-path="images/social-sdk/design-guidelines/GameFriends-10.png" />

***

## Resources

* [Development Guide: Managing Relationships](/developers/discord-social-sdk/development-guides/managing-relationships)

## Change Log

| Date           | Changes         |
| -------------- | --------------- |
| March 17, 2025 | initial release |
