One of the most popular new games in recent years is Mojang’s Minecraft, which has become popular among gaming communities as well as younger people. With the game’s first console outing published by Microsoft Studios, it’s been clear that Microsoft has wanted to tap into the successful game, and has now gone as far as purchasing its owners and creators, Mojang.
Microsoft has announced that it purchased the indie developer for 2.5 billion dollars. While full statements from both Mojang and Microsoft’s Phil Spencer can be found in our list of sources at the end of this post, some key highlights can be read below:
- Mojang’s founding employees – Markus “Notch” Persson, Carl Manneh, and Jakob Porser – are leaving the company, with Notch stating, “If I ever accidentally make something that seems to gain traction, I’ll probably abandon it immediately.”
- Mojang will continue to work on all versions of Minecraft, including the PC, Mac, iOS, and Android versions. In addition, the PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, Xbox 360, and Xbox One versions of the game will continue to be developed in collaboration with 4J Studios.
- Mojang intends to continue allowing players to create custom content for the game, saying, “Stopping players making cool stuff is not in anyone’s interests.”
- Mojang has no news on non-Minecraft projects, such as Scrolls.
- The MineCon convention will be held again next year.
- Microsoft seeks “to create even more ways for the vibrant community of YouTuber’s, innovators, bloggers and players to connect with each other – both in person and online.”
Mojang initially started off as a small indie developer consisting of only two people, and has now grown so large in popularity that it’s been purchased by one of the three major console creators. How do you feel about a big-name indie dev becoming part of Microsoft’s group of development teams? Share your thoughts in the comments section.
Sources: Official Mojang website, Official Xbox website, Microsoft press release, Notch’s website
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If I could create a basic (albeit very creativity-stimulating) game and then sell it for billions of dollars, I would be sooooo happy.
Congrats to Notch on his success and for creating a game that has brought me hours upon hours of joy and imagination. Can I get my initial investment of $13~ back, only adjusted for the sale price?
Was never really one for Minecraft. While it doesn’t appeal to me, it does for others and I get that. Nice on Notch for his success and walking away.
I think under Microsoft and with the lack of their founder, the studio’s just going to be another Rare
I like Minecraft, and enjoy going back to it once every so often, so I guess I’m happy for their success! I think they’d be crazy to mess with the formula Minecraft has going now but… I mean… it is Microsoft, so I wouldn’t be surprised if they did try to mess with it.
I have to admit, I wouldn’t be upset if they started charging even minimally for the updates that are currently free on PC. (I assume they’re free on other platforms, too, but I’m not actually sure.) I’ve always been surprised that the updates, which are huuuuge gamechangers, are free. I’m amazed that Minecraft stays so profitable, but I guess now it does have a ton of side merch. I was at Target the other day and noticed they were selling Minecraft… either papercraft or Lego sets for like… $40 for a tiny box with a few block types. And you know people probably buy it!! So I guess that might be where their main profit comes from now that everyone and their mother owns a copy or two. But yeah, if they started charging for these updates? People would still buy it. I’d probably still buy it whenever I got the yearly itch to get back into it. And if not, I already find the amount of content overwhelming so even if it stopped updating like it does, so I don’t think I’d even be disappointed if it switched to that.