Report: Microsoft in Talks to Purchase Minecraft Creator Mojang for $2 Billion [Update: Notch Reached Out to MS] - News
by William D'Angelo , posted on 09 September 2014 / 9,028 Views
[Update] In an update on Bloomberg it appears that Mojang founder Markus "Notch" Persson reached out to Microsoft about being acquired. Talks started a few months ago and the two companies agreed on the price and framework. Persson will help with the transition, however he will more than likely leave Mojang after that point.
Minecraft is one of the best selling games of all time with more than 50 million units sold across all platforms. The game released last week for the Xbox One and PlayStation 4. The PC version has sold more than 16 million units and the Xbox 360 version more than 12 million units.
Developer Mojang has remained independent throughout the success of the game. However, There is now a report on the Wall Street Journal from "a person with knowledge of the matter" that Microsoft is in talks to acquire Mojang for $2 billion. The deal "could be signed as early as this week."
Check back to VGChartz for updates.
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A life-long and avid gamer, William D'Angelo was first introduced to VGChartz in 2007. After years of supporting the site, he was brought on in 2010 as a junior analyst, working his way up to lead analyst in 2012. He has expanded his involvement in the gaming community by producing content on his own YouTube channel and Twitch channel dedicated to gaming Let's Plays and tutorials. Outside, in the real world, he has a passion for the outdoors which includes everything from hiking to having received his B.A. in Environmental Studies. You can contact the author at wdangelo@vgchartz.com or on Twitter @TrunksWD.
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20 new 100 million dollar AAA games would be better for xbox fans.
Minecraft sold 50million units @ around 20dollars a pop....my math puts that at 1billion dollars or there abouts if you were to remove all the overhead completely. Where do they think they could possibly make a further 2billion+ back from this move ever? they would need to come up with something right now that was as successful as MC was to date + MC would need to continue to sell at the same rate for another 5-6 years + there would still need to remain zero overhead.
I'm not questioning Microsoft's logic here, I'm questioning the person who came up with the rumour for even suggesting this number. Makes it seem completely like BS
Yes. Do it Microsoft. Kill Mojang while they're too busy with that shitty Bukkit drama. Go full Rare on them.
I really hope this doesn't happen. . .
Is this the only way Microsoft obtains new games anymore.. by buying them after they become a success.
Sony is publishing MInecraft on PS3, PS4 and PS Vita so Mojang have a contract with SCEE that Microsoft can't breach even if they buy Mojang.
Better ask all the ex-Rare employees how this turned out for them, Mojang.
Except most of the top Rare personnel from the SNES / N64 days were already long gone by the time they got sold to M$... which is why they've put nothing out but garbage since.
Wow, the creator is the owner of Mojang? Man, what a history, huh? From indie to bilionaire.
Most indie developers can turn into AAA.
I'm really glad to be changed from Xbox360 on PS4. Hardware Power and Persona 5 are just two of the many Reasons. (MS could use the money to develop new title as sony with theorder1886, bloodborne, drive club and everything produced, but nooo...
Microsoft does not want to work -.-
Or you could take the Sony goggles off and see that MS IS investing in new IPs.... Quantum Break, Ori and the Blind Forest, Project Spark, Scalebound, Sunset Overdrive etc....
I don't think this will go through. Xbox is on thin ice with many MS investors. Could be a deeply divisive and unpopular move.
This is unbelievably stupid. They're literally spending 2 bil to buy a single game. Sure Minecraft is still popular, but even it will eventually run it's course, and there's very little point to making a full fledged sequel.
Plus, as someone else mentioned, the game is already available on rival platforms and, as such, Microsoft would adopt those contracts and be obligated to continue supporting the title. It's not like they could just tell PS users to fuck off, if they bought it.
2 billion is nothing.
2 billion? Haha ok. I guess if anyone can afford it it's Microsoft. Good for them.
Only 2 billions? The game is worth so much more. It would be dumb to sell it for that price.
This would be really sad if true. I don't have an Xbox, and never plan to own one. This would be lame for me and my kid who is really into this game.
Yeah, because it's not like the game won't remain on the PC if/when M$ buys it...
not trying to be a bitch or devil's advocate, but...
that is a fair move... timed exclusives are !@#!, but buying studios and buying ip ( turning than in real exclusives) is fair. I will be sad is Minecraft becomes a Xbox one exclusive, but this time i realy can't criticize such a move by microsoft.
but the question is ... will it work? 2 billion is a lot of money, will this bet bear fruit?
all the Sony fanboys in here LOL
I honestly see more Xbox fans downing this, because in reality, this is a huge some of money that could be better spent supporting their slowly dying console with games and features. I'm a big PS fan. I can buy this game on my PS4, PS3, or Vita if I wish, and this deal will not affect that in the slightest, therefor I have no reason to be bothered.
Nintendo has Mario, PC has minecraft, Sony has TLOU, Microsoft has...moneyhatting business strategies.
That's really sad.
Not good to compare mario to TLOU
Moneyhatting is when you pay to have some sort of exclusivity. This is buying the whole studio which is pretty different.
I'll never forgive you Notch. Way to be a stupid fanboy. If you want to lose billions of dollars on Minecraft 2, that's your call. At least it'll still be on PC I guess.
Its getting much more interesting.... I LOVE IT! ( But first, bring minecraft to wii u and 3ds)
The 360 is home to the best selling console version of the #1 independent game of all time, and M$ is about to drop a nice fat $2 billion check in the developer's lap for it. Who says M$ doesn't treat indies good???
