Discord's system resource hogging days may be over, with new 'Game Mode'

Date:
Mon, 28 Sep 2026 11:39:26 +0000

Description:
Finally, Discord is working on a 'Game Mode' to reduce CPU and GPU
consumption while gaming, but it seems there's still a lot of work to be done.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter Discord is working on a new 'Game Mode' feature to reduce CPU and GPU usage while gaming The new feature seems to be an auto-toggle of the Reduced Motion feature on the desktop app when a game is running It's not yet clear if any improvements will be made to resource consumption while screen sharing Discord is infamous for its high RAM, CPU, and GPU consumption while gaming, and some of those aspects are finally being addressed.

As reported by VideoCardz , Discord is working on 'Game Mode,' a new feature for the Discord client that frees up CPU and GPU resources while a game is running by disabling effects and animations for smoother gameplay. Discord already offers options to reduce system resource use, notably Reduced Motion, which reduces the intensity of animations and hover effects when navigating the client. Users can also disable hardware acceleration, which stops the app from using the GPU for better performance within it, and disabling it should stop "visual glitches like frame drops in games or performance problems". Latest Videos From TechRadar Watch full video here:

Game Mode sounds a lot like Reduced Motion, with DiscordPreviews (on X) describing how it reduces animations and effects automatically once a game is detected. With this in mind, Game Mode might not be the best answer to
solving Discord's system resource issues, especially since there's no mention of RAM usage reduction.

It's also worth noting that Discord is an Electron-based application (a framework for desktop applications that uses web technology), which means Discord's web app is essentially running in an embedded browser engine known as Chromium the same engine Google Chrome is built on, which is another app that is heavy on system resources. You may like Discord not loading? The gaming chat service was down for some users As GPU prices rise, modders bring new features to older Nvidia hardware Windows 11's new security feature 'wrecks' frame rates for some gamers Discord is working on Game Mode. Once activated, Discord's client will automatically reduce animations and disable effects when it detects a game being played, freeing up CPU and GPU resources that might help your game run smoother. pic.twitter.com/Ul9v9qQqnx September 26, 2026 What about screen sharing? (Image credit: Getty Images) It's unclear if Game Mode will do anything new other than serve as an automatic toggle for Reduced Motion while gaming. In that case, Discord still has a long way to go in ensuring the desktop app doesn't continue to creep up as a system resource issue for gamers.

At the very least, having Discord devs address the issues is a great start, but it remains to be seen if Game Mode will also help with keeping CPU and
GPU usage as low as possible while screen sharing. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

Unsurprisingly, the latter uses high amounts of system resources, especially when streaming at higher resolutions, but it's more reasonable compared to simple voice chat or the app being open in the background and still hogging memory.

Still, in-game frame rates can suffer when using screen share, even if the resolution is below 1080p, and this is far more problematic on lower-end systems with less RAM. Solutions such as a capture card on a separate system (or specifically a laptop) can help solve game performance problems completely, but it's not exactly an affordable option.

If Discord can optimize the desktop app or move away from its Electron-based nature, it could go a long way toward removing all of the major pain points. Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds.



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/computing/software/discords-pc-system-resource-hoggi ng-days-are-numbered-a-new-game-mode-is-coming-to-reduce-cpu-and-gpu-usage-whi le-gaming


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