> ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://discord-platform-username.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. Any in-game imagery used in is purely fictional for concept purposes. ## 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. User needs ## 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. Game Friends ## 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. Game vs Discord Friends ## 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). Equally-weighted friend options ## 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. Adding friends ## 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. Removing friends ## 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. Removing friends ## 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. UX, not UI ## Setting on Discord This mock showcases how the corresponding DM looks within Discord's UI. Removing friends *** ## Resources * [Development Guide: Managing Relationships](/developers/discord-social-sdk/development-guides/managing-relationships) ## Change Log | Date | Changes | | -------------- | --------------- | | March 17, 2025 | initial release |