Discord will soon release an update that will add AV1 support to the platform. This allows users with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 40 GPU to use the media codec to stream gameplay footage to other users.
Discord will start rolling out the AV1 codec update for RTX 40 GPUs this week, Gerardo Delgado reports, Product Line Manager for Nvidia’s Content Creator Division. The functionality should slowly but surely become available to all users from then on. The update will allow Discord users with a Nitro subscription to stream 4K60 footage at a bit rate of 8 Mbit/s, Delgado reports. The AV1 can also be used without the Nitro, but at a lower resolution.
According to Delgado Discord currently only supports RTX 40 GPUs for live streaming of AV1 images. AMD’s Radeon RX 7000 series and Intel’s Arc graphics cards also have an AV1 encoder, but it can’t yet be used for live streaming on Discord. It is not known when support for these GPUs will be added.
According to Delgado, streaming with AV1 does not limit who can watch the broadcast. According to the Nvidia employee, Discord automatically checks if viewers can decode AV1 images. This is supported on video cards from other manufacturers. AMD RX 6000 and 7000 GPUs and Intel Arc video cards can, among others, decode AV1 images, as can recent AMD and Intel processors and Nvidia’s RTX 30 and 40 video cards. If one or more viewers do not have a GPU that can decode AV1 images, the service automatically switches to H.264.
Discord is rolling out an update that enables AV1 streaming using GeForce RTX 40 Series GPUs!
The update is rolling out starting this week and will slowly roll out to all users. With the AV1, you’ll be able to stream up to 4K60 with nitro at 8Mbps!
– Gerardo Delgado (@employee) January 25, 2023