Microsoft linked to social gaming buyout

US news agency Bloomberg claims to have word that Xbox 360 and Windows platform holder Microsoft is one of a number of companies preparing to swoop for social games developer CrowdStar in a deal said to be worth $200m.

CrowdStar is the studio behind Facebook hit Happy Aquarium. It currently enjoys over 50m monthly users on the social network.

The sources claim that CrowdStar is currently weighing up its options. Any possible deal is still weeks away, and there’s a still a strong chance that the firm will opt for private finance so as to remain independent.

If the move materialises, it follows the trend set by EA when it swooped for Facebook specialist Playfish in a deal worth in excess of $250m.