Nvidia, Discord, and Epic Games just unveiled a game-changing collaboration that could revolutionize how we discover games. The trio is testing instant Fortnite demos directly within Discord servers, letting users jump into gameplay within seconds without downloads, installs, or even game purchases. This marks the first major attempt at try-before-you-buy gaming since Google Stadia's failed experiments.
Nvidia just dropped a bombshell at Gamescom that could reshape gaming discovery forever. The chip giant announced it's partnering with Discord and Epic Games to test instant game demos directly within Discord servers, powered by GeForce Now's cloud streaming technology. The concept is deceptively simple yet revolutionary: click a button, connect your Epic account, and you're playing Fortnite within seconds.
"You can simply click a button that says 'try a game' and then connect your Epic Games account and immediately jump in and join the action, and you'll be playing Fortnite in seconds without any downloads or installs," Nvidia product marketing director Andrew Fear told The Verge. The demo currently offers 30-minute free trials, according to leaked screenshots from an internal Nvidia video.
This isn't just another cloud gaming feature—it's the resurrection of gaming's most elusive promise. The instant try-before-you-buy concept was originally pioneered by Gaikai, one of the first cloud gaming services that Sony acquired in 2012 for $380 million. Google later attempted similar functionality with Stadia, testing everything from browser demos to search result launches, but those efforts ultimately failed when Stadia shut down in 2023.