Yahoo TV

Microsoft doesn't just want to sell video games, it wants to own the online hangouts where fans gush about video games. Media reports say the Xbox maker is in talks to buy the upstart messaging platform Discord, popular among gamers, for more than $10 billion.

Discord allows users to coordinate group activities such as games, chats and virtual parties. It was valued at roughly $7 billion as of December.

Bloomberg reported Microsoft is one of the potential buyers to whom Discord has reached out. VentureBeat says Discord is in final talks with a party.

Microsoft declined to comment. Discord did not respond to Reuters request.

Microsoft has been on the prowl to buy social media platforms, starting with its purchase of LinkedIn in 2016. In September, it agreed to shell out more than $7 billion to acquire ZeniMax Media, the parent of game publisher Bethesda Softworks that created to popular game franchise, Elder Scrolls and Fallout. But it failed in its bid last fall to buy the U.S. assets of video app TikTok.

Gaming companies like Microsoft have had a banner year as people locked up at home amid the health crisis turned to video games for entertainment.

Shares of Microsoft rose in early trading Tuesday despite a weak start for the markets.