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Microsoft now owns Minecraft

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MC

Last week, it was rumoured that Microsoft would be purchasing the company responsible for the blocky phenomenon known as Minecraft. Today the Redmond company has confirmed that it now owns Mojang and its properties.

Microsoft put the news up on its Wire service, confirming the $2.5 Billion deal. Here’s what MS has to say.

Our relationship with Mojang began when we initially talked to the team about bringing Minecraft to the console. Minecraft quickly became the top online game on Xbox Live, with over two billion hours played on Xbox 360 in the last two years. That working relationship set the ground work for other opportunities. We’ve long seen the incredible potential of Minecraft.

Microsoft now owns the company behind Minecraft – but that doesn’t mean they’ll keep it confined to their platforms.

At Microsoft, we believe in the power of content to unite people. Minecraft adds diversity to our game portfolio and helps us reach new gamers across multiple platforms. Gaming is the top activity across devices and we see great potential to continue to grow the Minecraft community and nurture the franchise. That is why we plan to continue to make Minecraft available across platforms – including iOS, Android and PlayStation, in addition to Xbox and PC.

Mojang’s founders – including Marcus “Notch” Persson – have announced they’ll be leaving the company, with much of the staff who’ve been making Minecraft sticking about to keep the game’s regular updates coming.

Microsoft has also confirmed that the Minecraft convention, Minecon, will still exist – just now under MS’s helm. In the end, this should have little effect on Minecraft as you know it; it’ll still be developed for your favourite platform.

Last Updated: September 15, 2014

45 Comments

  1. Admiral Chief Assassin

    September 15, 2014 at 15:38

    Ka-ching baby

    Reply

  2. UltimateNinjaPandaDudeGuy

    September 15, 2014 at 15:38

    I don’t feel bad about aaarrgghhhcquiring minecraft a few weeks ago now…

    Reply

  3. Alien Emperor Trevor

    September 15, 2014 at 15:40

    Wow. OVG – MORE POPCORN STAT!

    Reply

    • OVGrounded new game+++

      September 15, 2014 at 16:02

      Next gen 30 Blocks per second.

      Reply

  4. TGS Babay (Umar)

    September 15, 2014 at 15:43

    With 2.5 bill we could’ve have some new ip, new projects maybe, but nope just like with TR, MS will just buy whatever they want….Yeah no, I don’t like it one bit. Only one benefiting is Notch. 2.5 BILLION…HOLY FUCK…..sheesh

    Reply

    • Jonah Cash

      September 16, 2014 at 07:02

      The sad thing is that he probably made a few billion before this….

      Reply

  5. Viking Of Science

    September 15, 2014 at 15:44

    YES! Now Notch can Finally Finance Psychonauts 2…. 🙂

    Reply

  6. JJ the Reus

    September 15, 2014 at 15:49

    Bring it to Steam.

    Reply

    • Alien Emperor Trevor

      September 15, 2014 at 15:52

      R10 says MS are going to make it exclusive to a new distribution platform.

      Reply

      • JJ the Reus

        September 15, 2014 at 15:54

        I will see your R10 and raise you a Steam Sale game of $5

        Reply

        • Admiral Chief Assassin

          September 15, 2014 at 16:07

          ONE DORRAR!

          Reply

  7. Hammersteyn

    September 15, 2014 at 15:54

    “The founders: Notch, Carl, and Jakob are leaving. We don’t know what
    they’re planning. It won’t be Minecraft-related but it will probably be
    cool.”

    Yeah, the coolest thing you can do with $2.5 billion dollars

    Reply

    • Scruff304

      September 15, 2014 at 15:59

      Cows on snowboards? That is perhaps the coolest thing this universe would ever experience…

      Reply

    • Jonah Cash

      September 16, 2014 at 07:10

      Go read his statement, he says that there was no way for him to get away from Minecraft without selling it!! He reckons it has become to big and he can’t step back from it… He says he want his recluse life back, he doesn’t want to be a big thing…
      The bit I liked the most is where he said that if he created anything that started to get traction he would just pull it immediately!! Enough money is enough money!! He has enough!!!

      Reply

  8. Hammersteyn

    September 15, 2014 at 15:56

    How long before we need Games for Windows to play Minecraft?

    Reply

  9. Martin du preez (D4RKL1NGza)

    September 15, 2014 at 15:57

    After all the big man person talk and Microsoft men attacks, the Minecraft man threw long term personal dignity succumbing to the vulturous nature of greed.

    In Japan, this would have ended in Seppuku. Such was the level of dishonor.

    Reply

    • Alien Emperor Trevor

      September 15, 2014 at 15:59

      If I was him I’d take my billions on holiday to a private island for a few months. The hatred he’s going to get.

      Reply

      • JJ the Reus

        September 15, 2014 at 16:26

        Or you could just buy the island and live there.

        Reply

        • Alien Emperor Trevor

          September 15, 2014 at 21:53

          What, like Rince’s island?

          Reply

    • David Muller

      September 15, 2014 at 16:08

      US $ 2.5 billion is US $ 2.5 billion. No need to justify yourself to anyone for selling your company for that kind of money.

      Reply

    • HvR

      September 15, 2014 at 16:15

      I will rather be P0e$ with $2.5billions than a man with morals and a mortgage.

      Reply

      • Martin du preez (D4RKL1NGza)

        September 15, 2014 at 16:15

        Just shows that M$ brings out the worse in people

        Reply

        • HvR

          September 15, 2014 at 16:17

          I blame my bank balance after debit order day.

          Reply

        • Pieter Kruger

          September 15, 2014 at 20:32

          Only in you….????

          Reply

      • Mark Treloar

        September 15, 2014 at 16:38

        Except didn’t he already make hundreds of millions or billions (I Forget) from sales? At the end if he felt he needed more than he already has its just greed. Also for someone who was so adamant that Microsoft was bad for business and refusing to support Minecraft on Windows 8. He really is just a hypocrite.

        Reply

        • David Muller

          September 15, 2014 at 17:05

          I am assuming you have a long and solid list of legal and safe things you would not do for USD2,5 billion then?

          Reply

          • Mark Treloar

            September 15, 2014 at 17:16

            Its not really about the money though is this case is it? People don’t expect him to sell out to a company he supposedly disliked.

          • Willem Swanepoel

            September 15, 2014 at 21:38

            money talks baby … money talks

  10. OVGrounded new game+++

    September 15, 2014 at 15:59

    Im just waiting for them to throw some money at ROCKSTEADY after SQUARE. It seems the only way to compete with the PS4 is to buy exclusivity.

    Reply

  11. Ryanza

    September 15, 2014 at 16:28

    Microsoft has nearly 20 gaming developing studios. Why is Microsoft not pumping money into those studios to create new and exciting AAA games. That is the only way Microsoft can turn this Xbox One shit around. Every time Microsoft buys or pays for exclusive, they just…. fuck em, let Xbox One fail. Keep doing the opposite of what we expect.

    Halo, Gears, Forza, Minecraft. I guess the way Minecraft looks, represents the Xbox One really well.

    Superhuman, buff, fast and now block heads. Perfect representation. Microsoft knows it’s audience.

    Reply

    • Mark Treloar

      September 15, 2014 at 16:32

      According to reports Notch actually approached Microsoft. They just chose not to decline.

      Reply

    • OVGrounded new game+++

      September 15, 2014 at 16:32

      Alan Wake was the last game that made me a proud XBOT.

      Reply

  12. Sir Rants A Lot: On Pandora

    September 15, 2014 at 18:24

    Right. Late to the party but here’s what I am saying:

    Why buy a product like Minecraft? It’s already had it’s “golden run” that part where people buy it like crazy. Sales have slowed down and not many people are going to be buying the game any more. It’s hit that peak and will be on the decline soon I am sure as the market becomes more saturated.

    So why would MS risk spending a metric crap ton of cash on this? I’ll tell you why. Prepare yourself Minecraftians….. Micro-Transactions are coming! Mark my words

    Reply

    • Alien Emperor Trevor

      September 15, 2014 at 21:52

      What about that card game he was developing? MS would probably love some of that sweet Hearthstone cash.

      Reply

      • Sir Rants A Lot: On Pandora

        September 16, 2014 at 09:24

        I forgot about that

        Reply

    • Jonah Cash

      September 16, 2014 at 07:07

      Remember there is a lot of merchandise for Minecraft which will still make a bit of money…. 2,5 billion I don’t think so but they should get a quarter of it back…. I hope so for who ever signed this deal because they won’t make it back in sales as you said!!!

      Reply

      • Sir Rants A Lot: On Pandora

        September 16, 2014 at 09:24

        I still think this was a bad move. They cannot make back that cash. Unless, as I said, they implement microtransactions or some other form of cash grab

        Reply

        • Jonah Cash

          September 16, 2014 at 10:15

          I didn’t think of Microtransactions till you mentioned it, and now I pretty sure that is what they will do!! You can grind for hours to get the things you need or go and buy them….. Like everything Microsoft and EA….

          Reply

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            September 16, 2014 at 10:25

            I read earlier this morning that MS expects to make back their investment by June 2015, don’t remember where though.

          • Sir Rants A Lot: On Pandora

            September 16, 2014 at 15:24

            Yep. So sad

    • Solotrope

      September 25, 2014 at 07:50

      I feel like a cat just came along and took a big shit in my sandbox

      Reply

  13. Willem Swanepoel

    September 15, 2014 at 21:35

    Money talks baby… money talks.

    Not judging him but ANY man has a price.

    a lot of hate is going to fly to this guy for being so “righteous” and saying he wont do this and then BAM!!

    Who wont sell his business for 2.5 billion.

    He sold over 54mil Minecraft copies across all platforms, and on top of that, he sold his business. Lets say roughly, he made 3.5 billion US in total ?
    Jip, I will also do the same thing … people will get over it and will move on while he sits at his mansion drinking pink drinks with woman who does not have a personality with big features. That is the life … oooohh yeah 😉

    Reply

    • Jonah Cash

      September 16, 2014 at 07:05

      I read his statement and he even said that if he made something that started to get traction he would pull it, he just wants out of the limelight!! He doesn’t feel like a flag bearer and couldn’t get away from Minecraft!! That is actually bad the thing he created with love turned on him and gave him nightmares!! I would also sell!!!

      Reply

      • Willem Swanepoel

        September 16, 2014 at 14:51

        I understand why did he sell. He created a monster 😉 out of the love of creating games. He is a creator and the community made it a fast growing monster.

        nah I am just fooling around. All jokes aside.

        Any sane person will sell, with that amount of money, he can do what he loves without any real life worries… maybe prostate issues but yeah ….

        He said it was not about the money but he is just bullshitting himself. Meaning, he didnt start Minecraft for the money, that is true, 5 years later, that changed and I am not saying it is wrong. Who does not want that amount of money for a pet project ?

        Anyway, he is living the dream now 😉 grats to him.

        Reply

  14. Ocelotty1

    September 16, 2014 at 06:36

    Scrolls 2 – The Reckoning

    Reply

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