Microsoft Corp is planning to acquire messaging platform Discord Inc. This deal is expected to cost more than $10 billion, according to the reports close to the company.

However, Discord has reached out to potential buyers and Microsoft is one of them, states the report, citing people familiar with the matter. Other source has stated that it is more likely to go public than sell itself.

Alongside, VentureBeat has reported that Discord was exploring a sale and it was in final talks with a party. While Discord did not immediately respond.

Discord, is valued to be around $7 billion as of last December. It is a platform on which users coordinate group activities such as games, discussions and even virtual parties.

With its strong gaming business, Microsoft has also been in search of 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.

The Xbox maker has been seeking to strengthen its video game offerings with $7.5 billion acquisition of ZeniMax Media last year, its biggest gaming acquisition ever.

The COVID-19 pandemic has boosted the prospects of gaming companies as people stayed at home and turned to video games for entertainment during lockdowns.

Lately, Microsoft's interest in buying social media platform Pinterest Inc has been reported.