Microsoft may buy messaging platform Discord for $10 billion

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Microsoft Corp is in talks to buy messaging platform Discord Inc for more than $10 billion, according to <em>Bloomberg News</em> report.</p>
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Discord has reached out to potential buyers and Microsoft is one of them, the report said, citing people familiar with the matter.</p>
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Earlier in the day, US technology news website VentureBeat had reported that Discord was exploring a sale and it was in final talks with a party.</p>
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However, neither Microsoft nor Discord have commented on the issue.</p>
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Discord, which is valued at around $7 billion as of last December, is a platform on which users coordinate group activities such as games, discussions and even virtual parties.</p>
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Microsoft already has the video gaming programme Xbox and has strengthened its offerings in the segment with $7.5 billion acquisition of ZeniMax Media last year, its biggest gaming acquisition ever.</p>
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The coronavirus pandemic has led to an increased business for gaming companies as people forced to stay at home maid stringnet lockdowns turned to video games for entertainment.</p>
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With its strong gaming business, Microsoft has also been looking to own mass social media platforms. Its last big social media deal was the $26.2 billion acquisition of LinkedIn in 2016, while it failed in its bid for short video app TikTok’s U.S. assets in September last year.</p>
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Recently, the Financial Times reported about Microsoft’s interest in buying social media platform Pinterest Inc.</p>