Great article, but how on Earth would migrating Discord away from GCP be relevant to Microsoft's ambitions?
Did Apple pat itself on the back when it bought corporate iPhones for the Beats employees?
Why Microsoft Wants Discord
61–70 of 75 posts
Re: Why Microsoft Wants Discord
#62Earlier quoted context omitted.
Sometimes they simply don't have a viable path to staying independent and profitable. Discord has tried a few things to earn more money (premium subscriptions, a game store) that didn't work out. I don't think they have a lot of options other than selling.
Did they not work out? I see people boosting servers and people with paid accounts very often. It seems they had a market willing to pay.
They make revenue, but I don't think they profit. I honestly doubt my $5 subscription offsets my costs as a user + my share of the unpaying users. Not that I pay that close of attention to their financials.
Re: Why Microsoft Wants Discord
#63Sometimes I wonder if the world would be better or worse if there was a max size for companies. It’s also interesting how many chat apps are acquired and exist. Just how large is that market?
From what I've seen the big companies just stink at chat period, so they go in buy a chat company, ruin the product and someone else moves into the space and starts taking market share again. Examples include AIM Skype Slack and now Discord
I don't think that companies are bad at making chat. I think that chat is difficult to make profitable to maintain.
Re: Why Microsoft Wants Discord
#64I don't get it. What's the benefit of buying a community? It's not like you can really control what the community does or thinks, you may can control which ads they see but how else do you make money with this community? > so Microsoft migrating Discord over to Azure would be seen as a big win for its cloud ambitions. What should this prove? That Azure can run a big service like Discord? I don't think Microsoft has t…
It's ok if you don't know how to monetize the network effect. Microsoft does.
Re: Why Microsoft Wants Discord
#65I wonder whether Microsoft would try and tie Discord accounts to Microsoft accounts. I think it'd be a bad call, as unlike Mojang (to be fair, it took years for Microsoft to actually migrate them), Discord does have a proper accounts infrastructure built up, one which is used as an authentication service of its own. Easier integration and auto signup with MSFT accounts, sure, but I think it would be a mistake to do a…
Back few years ago after MS purchased Skype they did add support for MSN/Live accounts in that messenger and ultimately, at some point user was forced to log into Skype with MSN account and merge contact lists.
But it seems even today it's still possible to use Skype with old native accounts, along with Microsoft account and what I just discover... with Github accounts. So if they do purchase Discord it might be possible that in future this IM will get support for MS accounts (I wouldn't be surprised if also Github ones) and users will be also offered merge and login with MS account alone containing "old" Discord accounts data for MS definition of "convenience". After all Microsoft account it's their single sign-on feature.
If purchase will take place, I think the question is what they'll do with it: keeping Discord as exclusively game-oriented IM that will somehow be merged with their Xbox infrastructure or abandon Microsoft Teams/merge it with Discord and keep it as business/professional oriented communication platform. Discord might be left alone for a while but I think MS will eventually give it a special place somewhere under their umbrella of services.
Re: Why Microsoft Wants Discord
#66Sometimes I wonder if the world would be better or worse if there was a max size for companies. It’s also interesting how many chat apps are acquired and exist. Just how large is that market?
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Re: Why Microsoft Wants Discord
#67Earlier quoted context omitted.
It's unlikely. I suspect many people start businesses with the intention of doing what they love and making a decent living out of it. Then the bigger the company gets, the further removed you are from your original dream and when someone waves a big pile of money in your face, it's a very tempting offer
This is often a very good reason why many sucessfull startups sell. Also many of the founders have an "entrepreneurial spirit", which really means to me they prefer to start things, make it a success (or not) and then move on, over and over again. They are not often a "lifer" that hang on at the same company till they retire. Some are, many not.
Or similar to why engineers get stuck in managerial roles.
The money stops at a certain level, then they become a manager to reach the next pay grade. Then don't enjoy their job because they're not doing the engineering, but can't go back to the lower salary once they've adjusted to the lifestyle
Re: Why Microsoft Wants Discord
#68I wonder whether Microsoft would try and tie Discord accounts to Microsoft accounts. I think it'd be a bad call, as unlike Mojang (to be fair, it took years for Microsoft to actually migrate them), Discord does have a proper accounts infrastructure built up, one which is used as an authentication service of its own. Easier integration and auto signup with MSFT accounts, sure, but I think it would be a mistake to do a…
Back few years ago after MS purchased Skype they did add support for MSN/Live accounts in that messenger and ultimately, at some point user was forced to log into Skype with MSN account and merge contact lists. But it seems even today it's still possible to use Skype with old native accounts, along with Microsoft account and what I just discover... with Github accounts. So if they do purchase Discord it might be poss…
> Discord as exclusively game-oriented IM
I mean, Discord is currently in the process of abandoning the game-oriented model, and being a general IM app [1].
[1]: https://www.theverge.com/2020/6/30/21308194/discord-gaming-u...
Re: Why Microsoft Wants Discord
#69Earlier quoted context omitted.
Back few years ago after MS purchased Skype they did add support for MSN/Live accounts in that messenger and ultimately, at some point user was forced to log into Skype with MSN account and merge contact lists. But it seems even today it's still possible to use Skype with old native accounts, along with Microsoft account and what I just discover... with Github accounts. So if they do purchase Discord it might be poss…
> Discord as exclusively game-oriented IM I mean, Discord is currently in the process of abandoning the game-oriented model, and being a general IM app [1]. [1]: https://www.theverge.com/2020/6/30/21308194/discord-gaming-u...
Sure but if purchased Microsoft can have own plans regarding Discord
Re: Why Microsoft Wants Discord
#70Earlier quoted context omitted.
Mostly Microsoft, Google, and Facebook. Amazon is far more likely to partner with a company than clone it’s products. Apple acquires mostly smaller companies, often things you’ve never heard of. Also worth noting, many of these smaller companies plan on getting acquired. That is their cash-out. In particular the ones which accept VC money are under tremendous pressure to cash out in one of these deals. I also would p…
> Amazon is far more likely to partner with a company than clone it’s products Like their notable partnership with Netflix! Oh wait no, I meant their obviously built to compete with Netflix Amazon Prime Video service.
I meant partner with them then clone it’s products. Or just clone their products. That’s a total difference in meaning.