# Game Friends Design Guidelines

:::callout{intent="info"}
Any in-game imagery used in is purely fictional for concept purposes.
:::

## 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.

![User needs](../img/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.

![Game Friends](../img/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.

![Game vs Discord Friends](../img/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).

![Equally-weighted friend options](../img/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.

![Adding friends](../img/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.

![Removing friends](../img/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.

![Removing friends](../img/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.

![UX, not UI](../img/images/social-sdk/design-guidelines/GameFriends-09.png)

## Setting on Discord

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

![Removing friends](../img/images/social-sdk/design-guidelines/GameFriends-10.png)

***

## Resources

- [Development Guide: Managing Relationships](/guides/friends-relationships-development-guides-managing-relationships)

## Change Log

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

## Related pages

- [API Reference](./api-reference-index.md)
- [App Fundamentals](./app-fundamentals-index.md)
- [Best Practices](./best-practices-index.md)
- [Bots & Companion Apps](./bots-companion-apps-index.md)
- [Building Games](./building-games-index.md)
- [Building on Discord](./building-on-discord-index.md)
- [Change Log](./change-log-index.md)
- [Communities & Servers](./communities-servers-index.md)
- [Components](./components-index.md)
- [Core Concepts](./core-concepts-index.md)

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