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Microsoft Pays $2.5bn For Minecraft Maker Mojang

Microsoft pays $2.5bn for Minecraft maker Mojang By Joe Miller Technology reporter, BBC News



Microsoft has acquired Mojang the Swedish company behind the wildly popular video game Minecraft for $2.5bn (PS1.5bn).



The title has been sold to more than 54 million copies. It allows players to build structures using old-fashioned Lego blocks. They can also explore large maps and battle other players.



The deal was announced by Xbox chief Phil Spencer.



Mojang its founders have assured the public that everything was going to be fine.



Analysts speculate that the deal is meant to increase Microsoft's Windows Phone users.



The acquisition comes one year after Microsoft bought the handset and devices division of Finnish mobile phone manufacturer Nokia.



Minecraft is one of the top-selling apps on both Apple's iOS store and and Android's Google Play, and has recently been released for Xbox One and PlayStation 4 which has further increased sales.



Despite being available for some time, it was still the third most played game on consoles in the month of March, according to NPD Group market research firm.



Mojang, the game's creator, was founded in 2009. It made more than $100 million last year and has approximately 40 employees.



Microsoft has announced that the Mojang team would join its game studio which is responsible for titles such as Halo, Forza and Fable.



The chief executive of the tech giant, Satya Nadella, said: "Minecraft is more than an amazing game franchise - it is an open world platform, powered by a vibrant community that we cherish and brimming with exciting opportunities for that community and for Microsoft."



Opposition to the sale



Markus "Notch", Mojang's founder has previously criticized Microsoft and told Reuters that there was a tiny market for Windows phones and it wasn't worth developing apps for.



Minecraft has a huge and enthusiastic cult fan base, many of whom have expressed their anger at what they perceive as a corporate takeover of an independent company that is spirited and community-oriented.



"Makes me sick, and sad," wrote one user on a renowned Minecraft forum. "It could kill the gaming community," EvilBatsu added.



Others expressed concern about whether their talents would be showcased by fans.



"It will not just cost more to play the game, but it will also cause people to lose their jobs." Many players play Minecraft and upload it to YouTube as their career however, if Microsoft becomes the sole owner, there will definitely be copyright issues."



Some players suggested that Microsoft could use more resources on the game's expansion and improvements.



In an announcement, Microsoft said it would continue to maintain Minecraft across all its current platforms, and with a "commitment to nurture and expand it long into the future".



It also stated that the acquisition was expected to be concluded by the end of 2014.



In an announcement confirming the deal on its website, Mojang reassured gamers, declaring: "Please remember that the future of Minecraft and you - the community - are crucial to everyone involved. Let this be the only thing you learn from this post.



In relation to Microsoft, Mojang said: "There are only few potential buyers who have the capacity to grow Minecraft on a scale that it is deserved."
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The firm added that "Notch" has decided that he "doesn't want to be a part of a company of such global significance".



Developer Notch on selling Minecraft:



"I've become a symbol. I do not want to be a significator, accountable for something that I don't understand, that I don't want to work on and that constantly comes back to me. I'm not an entrepreneur. I'm not a chief executive officer.



Read his entire statement



Why Minecraft?



James McQuivey of analytics firm Forrester, noted that "Minecraft is among the most important gaming properties in the world".



"Not only is it profitable but it continues to grow in terms of profits even after its release, mostly because of the huge player base that invests in creating their own Minecraft worlds.



"That helps explain the reason Microsoft would be interested in Minecraft and would want to ensure that it's available on Microsoft's gaming platforms.



Prof. Mark Skilton, from Warwick Business School Prof Mark Skilton from Warwick Business School acquisition was about building the "strong customer base" for Microsoft.



"The online gaming industry is quickly moving from niche collective enthusiast to mass-market and Minecraft is a logical move as large businesses follow the growth of traffic in the digital world."



In the last month, Amazon bought Twitch, a site which allows users to watch other people play video games, for $970 million (PS597m).



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Microsoft is 'set to buy Minecraft'



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Microsoft



NPD Group


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