According to reports from The New York Times, the popular chat platform Discord is reportedly gearing up for an initial public offering (IPO). Sources indicate that Discord's leadership has been engaging with investment bankers to lay the groundwork for an IPO that could occur as early as this year. The company was last valued at around $15 billion in 2021.
In response to these reports, a Discord spokesperson provided a statement to The New York Times, saying, “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, due to its gaming-friendly features and robust moderation and community tools. The platform has been integrated into PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series consoles, offering an easy and convenient voice chat option during gameplay. Additionally, Discord has recently added streaming capabilities. While the service is free to use, it also offers various monetized options that provide users with additional customizable features.
However, the prospect of an IPO has raised concerns among users. On Reddit, in the r/Discordapp thread, the most up-voted comment expressed skepticism about the potential impact of an IPO on Discord's functionality, 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, in r/technology, users lamented, "Rip Discord, brought into the cycle of infinite growth at any cost."
These IPO rumors are not entirely surprising, as Discord has been considered a candidate for such a move for some time. In 2021, it was reported that the company was in discussions with at least three potential buyers, including Microsoft. However, subsequent reports revealed that Discord chose to remain independent and focus on pursuing an IPO.
