Discord already has a native version for Windows on ARM and eliminates one of the most visible shortcomings of this platform

Despite all the alternatives there are, Discord remains the favorite platform for users. Now, it is available natively for Windows on ARMa movement that comes after a long wait and that covers an important absence within the ecosystem of applications for this platform. The company has not yet officially announced it, but its own website already allows you to download the client in ARM64 version along with the traditional x86 edition.

The novelty has been detected Neowinwhich remembers that Discord had confirmed about a year ago that it was working on this version. The change is not minor, because until now computers with ARM processors for Windows could run Discord using x86 emulation, a functional solution in many cases, but not ideal for an application so used daily in chat, voice and communities.

The arrival of the native client coincides with a stage in which Windows on ARM is gaining more weight thanks to Qualcomm’s push with the Snapdragon X family and greater involvement from Microsoft so that more developers adapt their programs. Taking this into account, having an application as well-known as Discord in native format helps reinforce the idea that these teams no longer depend so much on fixes or translated versions in the background.

Discord is still closely linked to the video game, but for years it has also become a common tool for studying, working or coordinating thematic communities. Hence, this update has more scope than it seems. It is not just an improvement for players, but an important piece within the daily Windows catalog on ARMjust as it happens with browsers, office apps or messaging services.

Why does it matter that Discord is native on ARM and not only works through emulation

For the user, the difference between an emulated app and a native one is not always visible to the naked eye, but it is usually noticeable in daily use. When an application is compiled directly for ARM64, the system does not need to translate instructions intended for another architecture. Therefore, the program can open and work more efficiently. This usually translates into a more agile response, less battery consumption and better integration with the equipment’s hardware.

This point is especially important in lightweight and convertible laptops with ARM chips, where autonomy is one of the great purchase arguments. An app like Discord can spend many hours open in the background, with notifications, calls, microphone use or audio streaming. If that payload is executed natively, the energy impact tends to be lower than in an emulated version, something that benefits both performance and battery life.

There is also an indirect effect on the platform’s image. Windows on ARM has made a lot of progress, but it still had the perception that some basic applications arrived late or were not fully adapted. The presence of Discord on ARM64 helps close that gap and fits with the arrival of new devices based on Snapdragon X2 that are expected in the coming months. It does not solve all the ecosystem’s problems by itself, as is evident, but it does eliminate a very visible deficiency in one of the apps most used by an entire generation of users.