> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://discord-dependabot-npm-and-yarn-js-yaml-5-2-2.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-dependabot-npm-and-yarn-js-yaml-5-2-2/w__TKssorsDtEuhe/images/social-sdk/design-guidelines/GameFriends-02.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=w__TKssorsDtEuhe&q=85&s=d8351a195776eb885cbac15c842a77ca" 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-dependabot-npm-and-yarn-js-yaml-5-2-2/w__TKssorsDtEuhe/images/social-sdk/design-guidelines/GameFriends-03.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=w__TKssorsDtEuhe&q=85&s=39462eb61289f3a43886c6a8808da2f4" 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-dependabot-npm-and-yarn-js-yaml-5-2-2/w__TKssorsDtEuhe/images/social-sdk/design-guidelines/GameFriends-04.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=w__TKssorsDtEuhe&q=85&s=3766f332b89ad002c0c28434f06b103f" 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-dependabot-npm-and-yarn-js-yaml-5-2-2/w__TKssorsDtEuhe/images/social-sdk/design-guidelines/GameFriends-05.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=w__TKssorsDtEuhe&q=85&s=f7917afde4266da150766c867b14ccef" 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-dependabot-npm-and-yarn-js-yaml-5-2-2/w__TKssorsDtEuhe/images/social-sdk/design-guidelines/GameFriends-06.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=w__TKssorsDtEuhe&q=85&s=8981c4ecd21d8f37d92a1e997046fa20" 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-dependabot-npm-and-yarn-js-yaml-5-2-2/w__TKssorsDtEuhe/images/social-sdk/design-guidelines/GameFriends-07.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=w__TKssorsDtEuhe&q=85&s=03e512ff74ef0c710d592e547e109620" 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-dependabot-npm-and-yarn-js-yaml-5-2-2/w__TKssorsDtEuhe/images/social-sdk/design-guidelines/GameFriends-08.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=w__TKssorsDtEuhe&q=85&s=4f2f267f13cbf552ce43bb60a94ca521" 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-dependabot-npm-and-yarn-js-yaml-5-2-2/w__TKssorsDtEuhe/images/social-sdk/design-guidelines/GameFriends-09.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=w__TKssorsDtEuhe&q=85&s=4ee5e5f5762f7105089b1e24c7cb6904" 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-dependabot-npm-and-yarn-js-yaml-5-2-2/w__TKssorsDtEuhe/images/social-sdk/design-guidelines/GameFriends-10.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=w__TKssorsDtEuhe&q=85&s=324a65d6094919c40aa3328821687a40" 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 |
