Opera integrates Bluesky, Slack, and Discord into its browser

Bluesky is getting added to the Opera web browser. On Tuesday, the Norway-based software maker announced the addition of the new social network alongside Slack and Discord, which will all be integrated into the browser’s sidebar alongside other messaging and communication services.

Opera users have been able to customize their browsers with shortcuts to messaging apps like WhatsApp, Messenger, Telegram, Instagram, TikTok, X, and others, as well as with AI providers like ChatGPT or Aria, Opera’s own AI assistant.

The addition of Bluesky, Slack, and Discord to the sidebar could broaden the app’s appeal among those who spend a lot of time — both personally and at work — using those services. It’s also meant to help Opera’s efforts in reducing clutter from open tabs.

The feature was added in response to user feedback, Opera notes. While it’s not surprising that people would demand access to popular tools like Slack or Discord, Bluesky’s addition is notable given the social network is still relatively young. Bluesky today competes with larger networks from tech giants like X and Meta’s Threads, and has now attracted over 32 million users.

“We’re constantly looking at the feedback our users provide underneath our blog posts, on Opera forums, and through social media,” said Joanna Czajka, product director at Opera, in an announcement. “Whether you’re working with your team on Slack, chatting with your friends on Discord, or keeping in touch with your community via BlueSky, we want you to be able to do that directly from Opera.”

Launched in 2023 to replace the original Opera browser, Opera One was designed for the generative AI era, but it also introduces new concepts around how browser tabs can be organized and grouped. With Tab Islands, the browser intelligently groups tabs that belong together, like related research or Google Docs. Users can even customize those tabs with their own emoji. Plus, the browser features modular video and music players that can be popped out and moved around anywhere on the screen.

The idea to integrate popular services in the browser sidebar for easy access isn’t a new one. The Arc browser from the startup The Browser Company also offers its take on this format within its custom spaces, as have other browser startups from earlier decades, like Flock, the social web browser that shuttered in 2011.