Technology

Microsoft in talks to purchase Discord for at least $10B: report

Microsoft is in talks to purchase Discord, the popular calls and messaging app, for at least $10 billion, several sources familiar with the conversations told Bloomberg News.

In an article published Tuesday, several sources close to the negotiations indicated that no deal was close to being signed, and added that other companies were considering whether to purchase Discord as well.

A purchase of the app by Microsoft would likely lead to greater integration with the tech giant’s other systems including the gaming platform Xbox; Discord has sought to broaden its user base in recent years but attracts a large audience of video gamers and web streamers to the platform.

Microsoft and Discord representatives both declined to comment when contacted by The Hill.

Discord boasts more than 100 million monthly users, and was valued at $3.5 billion last year. In an interview with CNN, the company’s founder said last year that engineers were working to make the app’s user interface more intuitive to new users in an attempt to expand its user base even further.

“We’ve spent a lot of time trying to improve the user experience. So, when you sign up, we’ve added things that are prompts and almost like conceptual road signs to help you understand,” CEO Jason Citron told CNN Business.

— Updated at 12:45 a.m.