Notes

Microsoft has Acquired Minecraft For $2.5 Billion.

Microsoft has confirmed that Mojang and Minecraft will join its ranks, however, it will continue to offer the game across iOS, Android and PlayStation as well as on Xbox and PC, the company announced today. Microsoft says that they started their conversation around the game's release on the Xbox console and then saw their tremendous success and decided to acquire the game to help "diversify [its] game portfolio."



The team announced that Markus "Notch" Persson and Carl Manneh, founders of Mojang, have resigned from Mojang following the acquisition. Mojang's official website confirmed that the purchase cost was $2.5 billion. The Mojang community team stated that Notch was not averse to controlling such an enterprise of size and prefers to focus on smaller projects. The sale was made to allow Minecraft to continue growing while allowing the founders to pursue other interests.



Mojang does not give any assurances as to the future plans for Minecraft however it has stated that it will continue business as usual. Microsoft says it "respect[s] the brand and independent spirit" of Minecraft and will continue with projects like MINECON, the annual convention focused on the game launched by Mojang in the year 2010.



The community reaction to this news is likely to be mixed. Minecraft fans who have been playing the game since it was first introduced will likely be skeptical of the new corporate owners. But, the rationale behind the purchase is sound. We'll be able to see if Notch can repeat the feat, and the next generation of Lego similar games.



Here's Notch's personal thoughts on the deal, and on his decision to leave the company he founded on his blog, that was down at the time of writing. :



Mojang has left me



It was quite a while ago that I made the decision to stop Minecraft development. Jens was the perfect person to run it and I was eager to try new things. While I tried to make it big again at first it ended up failing. But, since I decided to stick with small prototypes, interesting challenges, and I have had so much fun doing my work, it has been so much easier. I wasn't sure how I fit into Mojang where people do actual work, but because everyone said that I was an important part of the team to the culture, I decided to stay.



I was at home with a bad cold a couple of weeks ago when the internet exploded with rage against me due to an EULA situation that I had nothing to do with. I was confused. I didn't understand. I tweeted this out of frustration. Later, I watched the This is Phil Fish video on YouTube and started to realize I didn't have the connection to my fans I believed I had. I've become an image. I don't want to be a symbol. I don’t want to be accountable for something I don’t understand. That I don't want to tackle. I'm not an entrepreneur. I'm not an executive chief. I'm a geeky programmer who enjoys posting my opinions on Twitter.



After the deal is concluded I'll leave Mojang to go back to web-based experiments and Ludum Dares. If I ever accidentally make something that is gaining traction, I'll probably abandon the project immediately.



In light of the fact that the public image of me is somewhat disorganized, I don't anticipate to be free of negative comments by doing this however, at least for now I don't feel the need to read them.



This is contrary to many of my public statements. I'm not sure of a response to this. I also know that many of you have used me as a symbol for some perceived struggle. I'm not. I'm a person and I'm right there with you.



You are my best friend. You're incredible. I am grateful for making Minecraft what it is today. Cohune However, there are too many of us, and I can't be held accountable for something like this. In one sense, it's a part belonging to Microsoft today. In a larger sense, it's belonged to everyone for a long time and that's not going to change.



It's not just about the money. It's about my sanity.


My Website: https://cohune.com/