Mojang's team is joining Microsoft Studios, which includes the studios behind global blockbuster franchises like "Halo," "Forza," "Fable" and more. Microsoft's investments in mobile and cloud technologies will allow "Minecraft" players to enjoy richer and faster worlds, more powerful tools for development, and more opportunities to connect across the "Minecraft" community.
In accordance with the agreement, Microsoft will acquire Mojang for $2.5 billion.
Mojang:
Minecraft has evolved from a simple game to an enormously important project. While we're extremely satisfied with what Minecraft has become However, it wasn't our intention for it to get this large.
As you may already know, Notch is the creator of Minecraft and the majority shareholder at Mojang. He's decided that he does not want to be the owner of an enterprise with such global significance. In the last few years, he's tried to develop smaller projects, but the pressure of running Minecraft became too difficult to bear. The only option was to sell Mojang. Mojang will continue to create amazing things, however. Don't fret.
There are only a few potential buyers who have the resources to develop Minecraft to the size it deserves. Since 2012, we've worked closely with Microsoft and were awed by their dedication to our game's development. We're sure that Minecraft will continue to grow in a phenomenal way.
Markus "Notch" Persson:
I don't consider myself to be an actual game developer. I make games because it's fun, and because I am a gamer and love to program, but I don't make games with the goal of them becoming huge hits and I don't attempt to change the world. Minecraft certainly became a huge success and people are saying it's changed the way games are played. I didn't intend to see it do that. It's certainly pleasing and to slowly get put in the public spotlight is fascinating.
I have no idea what to think of this.
Update (2014-09-19): Josh Centers:
Minecraft is the most amazing game I have ever played. It's a combination of sandbox, exploration, world-building, and role-playing. It has a "conclusion" of sorts (that you must discover on your own), but it doesn't end. You can play on your own or with other players, and you can even manage your own Minecraft server and invite just your friends to play on it. It's easy to spend thousands of hours playing Minecraft, and millions of people already have.
Acquisition Game Microsoft Minecraft
3 Comments
It's to me like a given. Microsoft has decided that if Apple is able to go hi-res on their retina screens or operating system, Microsoft cannot differentiate itself. Prioritygame Instead they will "bet the entire company on red" and switch to low-res.
Imagine Windows Explorer with folder icons that have a resolution of 8x8.
:-)
"I am not sure what to think of this."
Minecraft is the biggest thing to happen to games since Pokemon. Everyone plays the game and if Minecraft is managed well it will remain one of the most significant well-known, popular, and influential franchises for at least another ten years.
Microsoft considers games extremely important, not just because they're a major driver for new Windows PCs and Windows licenses, and also because of the Xbox. Microsoft has attempted to develop games vaguely like Minecraft in the past (Viva Pinata, Kodu, Project Spark), and they've generally been unsuccessful.
Sony already owns the Little Pig Planet franchise, and Nintendo is beginning to enter the "creative games that let you create stuff, rather than just consuming items" field with Mario Maker for the Wii U. I think a lot of companies assume that these types of games are going to become more important. They're also right I believe.