According to a report from The New York Times, Discord, the popular chat platform favored by gamers, is reportedly considering an initial public offering (IPO). Sources have indicated that Discord's leadership has been in discussions with investment bankers in recent weeks to lay the groundwork for an IPO that could occur as early as this year. The last valuation of Discord in 2021 pegged the company at around $15 billion.
In response to the report, a Discord spokesperson told The New York Times, “We understand there is a lot of interest around Discord’s future plans, but we do not comment on rumors or speculation. Our focus remains on delivering the best possible experience for our users and building a strong, sustainable business.”
Discord has seen a significant rise in popularity, particularly within the gaming community, thanks to its gaming-centric features and robust moderation and community tools. The platform has been integrated into PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series consoles as a convenient voice chat option, and it has recently added streaming capabilities. Discord remains free to use, although it offers monetized options that provide users with additional customizable features.
Despite its success, the prospect of an IPO has sparked concern among users. On the r/Discordapp subreddit, the most upvoted comment on the topic expressed pessimism about the future of the platform post-IPO, stating, "Whelp! It's been fun, but anytime someone decides they want to 'make a public offering' then the company *everything* goes to shit. What's the next communications platform promising to not sell out, like all the others?" Similarly, on r/technology, a comment lamented, "Rip Discord, brought into the cycle of infinite growth at any cost."
The news of a potential IPO is not entirely unexpected. In 2021, Discord was reportedly in talks with at least three companies interested in purchasing it, including Microsoft. However, it was later reported that Discord chose to remain independent and pursue an IPO instead.
