tl;dr:
- Step 1: Join the Discord server!
- Step 2: Visit the Account settings page to manage your brand new bots4 account.
- Step 3: Link your bots4 account to Discord to unlock all channels and sync roles.
Official bots4 Discord server
I'm excited to announce that the long-promised Discord server is finally live. From the beginning, I knew I wanted it to be deeply integrated with the game, and a lot of that functionality is already in place. For example, Jane's backroom showroom-stocking lottery is up and running with a built-in /take command.
IRC will always hold a special place in my heart. My earliest memories of interacting with other bots2 players were on IRC (or "mIRC" as I called it back then, not yet understanding protocol vs. client) with Jans and #12monkeys. That said, IRC has been way past its prime for many years, so it's time to modernize.
I also expect Discord will help with new player retention. Some occasionally pop into IRC, but it's quiet, and the platform doesn't lend itself to casually hanging out the way Discord does. My hope is that a more active space, with other players around to greet and guide newcomers, will help more of them stick around.
bots4 accounts
bots4 accounts can be managed at the brand new Account settings page.
The other major addition in this update is the introduction of bots4 accounts. Think of this as your MMO account, with your existing bots acting as individual characters. Given how common it is for players to own multiple bots, this model is long overdue.
Transitioning account systems is never simple, so this will be the beginning of a gradual rollout toward a more flexible and intuitive setup over time. The goal is to unlock new features and improve how players interact with the game. As I roll this out, I'm trying to keep two things in mind: (a) automate as much as possible and (b) avoid surprises. Concretely:
- If your bots already have a registered email, then you already have a bots4 account.
- All bots tied to the same email are now grouped under one account.
- Account info is not currently public.
- Account functionality is intentionally minimal for now and focused on Discord integration.
- Any actions that previously required email verification still do.
- How you create bots and log into them is unchanged for now.
- Your account identity defaults to the name of your bot with the highest platinum count (and can be changed freely after).
This is a foundation I'll build on over time. For example, it's easy to imagine logging in with a bots4 account instead of an individual bot in the future. I'll be gathering feedback as we go and using it to shape the long-term direction.
What's next
As outlined in the 2026 plans I shared late last year, my primary focus remains growth. You may have already noticed some small changes aimed at improving the new player experience, and there's more to come - especially around guidance, onboarding, and making the early game more engaging.
Watching how the 500+ new players brought in by ads have interacted with the game has reminded me how easy it is to forget how different bots4 feels to a brand new player compared to someone who's been playing for decades. Milestones like reaching level 50 or 70, equipping an answerer for the first time, defeating a new trainer, or discovering a unique armor all carry a sense of excitement that can fade with familiarity. I want to reconnect with that fresh perspective and identify which parts of the game deserve more attention to better serve new players in 2026.
At the same time, improvements for veteran players remain important. Once the growth engine is running more smoothly, I plan to shift more focus back to other modernization and quality-of-life updates.
As always, but especially with a larger update like this (it may not feel huge from the outside, but this represents several weeks of work to design the game/Discord integration and lay the foundation for bots4 accounts), I'd love to hear your feedback. Please share your thoughts here (or on Discord!) - I'm looking forward to hearing how everything is working for you.
discord