Microsoft has bought Mojang/Minecraft for $2.5Bn {UPDATE}

[Valica]

UPDATE: THE DEAL HAS GONE THROUGH.

After rumors surfaced via the Wall Street Journal 5 days ago, the truth has finally been revealed.
Microsoft will be acquiring Mojang, the developer of hit game Minecraft.
Along with this, Notch, the original creator of Minecraft, will be leaving the company entirely.

Check out /r/minecaft to see people getting upset:
http://www.reddit.com/r/minecraft/

The deal has been completed:

http://msft.it/6016onOp

https://mojang.com/2014/09/yes-were-being-bought-by-microsoft/

Notch is leaving Mojang:

http://notch.net/2014/09/im-leaving-mojang/

[Organized States]

I really hope they don't take this deal. It'll basically hurt minecraft on PS4.

[MERIZoC]

Nonononono. Me no like. At all.

[Ainin]

Eh sure. Why not?

[The Rich Port]

Hopefully, Smosh won't go for it.

Mojang is easily worth way more, not to mention if it diversified.

We need competition, and Microsoft is trying to form a monopoly on software and hardware.

[Jaycarnia]

Never liked Microsoft anyway

[-The Trade Federation-]

Microsoft, don't you dare take away my favorite game.

[Lordieth]

In-app purchases. Want new blocks? In-app purchases. New skins? In-app purchases.

Product placements. Microsoft bugs. No backwards compatibility.

Welcome to the new Minecraft experience.

[The Rich Port]

In-app purchases. Want new blocks? In-app purchases. New skins? In-app purchases.

Product placements. Microsoft bugs. No backwards compatibility.

Welcome to the new Minecraft experience.

"We're sorry, but Minecraft is in pre-Alpha development. In fact, it always has been. Thank you for playing, fucknut."

[Fjormark]

I think this could only be more innovative for the game, I don't like what either Notch or Smosh have done with the game, the current development seems weak, not to mention the developers get their ideas from Reddit. Let Microsoft take control and develop the game properly even if their incentive is lots of money, at least the game will be a lot more fun.

[-The Trade Federation-]

I think this could only be more innovative for the game, I don't like what either Notch or Smosh have done with the game, the current development seems weak, not to mention the developers get their ideas from Reddit. Let Microsoft take control and develop the game properly even if their incentive is lots of money, at least the game will be a lot more fun.

I'm pretty sure it was Jeb and not Notch that completely ruined the game.

[Organized States]

I think this could only be more innovative for the game, I don't like what either Notch or Smosh have done with the game, the current development seems weak, not to mention the developers get their ideas from Reddit. Let Microsoft take control and develop the game properly even if their incentive is lots of money, at least the game will be a lot more fun.

I enjoy the game as it is. Considering the community has this much pull on the Devs, some of the ideas on reddit, are absolutely marvelous, and I fear we may see that gone with Microsoft.

[The Rich Port]

I think this could only be more innovative for the game, I don't like what either Notch or Smosh have done with the game, the current development seems weak, not to mention the developers get their ideas from Reddit. Let Microsoft take control and develop the game properly even if their incentive is lots of money, at least the game will be a lot more fun.

I think this could only be more innovative for the game, I don't like what either Notch or Smosh have done with the game, the current development seems weak, not to mention the developers get their ideas from Reddit. Let Microsoft take control and develop the game properly even if their incentive is lots of money, at least the game will be a lot more fun.

I'm pretty sure it was Jeb and not Notch that completely ruined the game.

... I'm sorry, but I don't think we've been playing the same game.

What the hell's wrong with it? It's always been... Minecraft.

[Wisconsin9]

No no no no no no. I refuse to believe that this might happen.

[Sassinia]

One word: No.

[Fjormark]

I'm pretty sure it was Jeb and not Notch that completely ruined the game.

I read that Notch wouldn't listen to anyone other than his fanbase on Reddit, regardless I don't like either developers. Mojang should sell out and maybe we might get more professional developers who actually care about what the gamers want.

[Ainin]

In-app purchases. Want new blocks? In-app purchases. New skins? In-app purchases.

Come on, that's never happened.

Product placements.

Maybe in the launcher, but in the game itself, very unlikely.

Microsoft bugs. No backwards compatibility.

Would I be wrong in assuming these are jabs at IE?

[The Rich Port]

I'm pretty sure it was Jeb and not Notch that completely ruined the game.

I read that Notch wouldn't listen to anyone other than his fanbase on Reddit, regardless I don't like either developers. Mojang should sell out and maybe we might get more professional developers who actually care about what the gamers want.

OK, OK, who's paying you to post?

[Sassinia]

Microsoft will make Minecraft a shitty freemium where everything has to be bought with real money. I don't want that.

[Ainin]

Microsoft will make Minecraft a shitty freemium where everything has to be bought with real money. I don't want that.

Sauce.

[Ifreann]

Alternative idea: Mojang buys Microsoft.

[Sassinia]

Microsoft will make Minecraft a shitty freemium where everything has to be bought with real money. I don't want that.

Sauce.

..Sauce? I don't get it.

[Ainin]

Sauce.

..Sauce? I don't get it.

Source.

[Geanna]

http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-09-09/making-sense-of-microsofts-2-billion-bid-for-minecraft

The going rate for a universe these days appears to be $2 billion.

That’s the amount Microsoft is prepared to pay to acquire Mojang, the Swedish company that owns Minecraft, according to a report in the WSJ.
The two companies have yet to finalize a deal, per the report, although they could come to terms this week.
A Microsoft spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Buying Minecraft would make a lot of sense for Microsoft.
For one, the company has billions upon billions of dollars in overseas cash that it wants to spend and few targets worth buying.
In Minecraft, Microsoft would get a game that has taken over the lives of children around the world and brings in about $100M a year in profit.
It’s a huge hit on the Xbox as well as mobile devices and the PC and would provide Microsoft with a massive, growing audience.
In these respects, the story is in some ways similar to Microsoft’s purchase of Skype in 2011.
(Beware, Europe; none of your popular services are safe.)

Minecraft offers some perks that go well beyond the raw financials and growing user base.
It’s a worldwide phenomenon that really has no rival.
Part of the reason kids and adults love the game so much is the free-spirited nature of its Swedish creator Markus Persson.
Having Microsoft take over the franchise would ruin the grass-roots feel for some...
But it would also open up the chance for some deep-pocketed development that could take Minecraft to new heights.

I've dabbled a bit with Minecraft and have been blown away by the complexity of the worlds people have created inside the game.
While the graphics are crude, the game has in many ways pushed virtual reality to new realms.

Microsoft’s new CEO, Satya Nadella, has said the company will be all about productivity for the foreseeable future.
It’s hard to square where Minecraft fits into that vision.
Microsoft, though, could use all the growing, popular brands it can get to revive how people—especially young people—feel about the company.

Well this is fucking terrible, in my opinion.

After the recent Bukkit drama with Mojang, it would nearly kill the (PC) fanbase if they sold to MS.
I couldn't imagine this indie-born company growing so large and profitable only to sell out to an even more profitable corporation.

Mojang has more than enough money from one game to develop more games and hire more people.
They don't exactly need the MS branding. I think it would only hurt them in the short and long term.

As nice as the price is, I really hope they don't. Last thing we need is Microsoft ruining something else.

[Fjormark]

I read that Notch wouldn't listen to anyone other than his fanbase on Reddit, regardless I don't like either developers. Mojang should sell out and maybe we might get more professional developers who actually care about what the gamers want.

OK, OK, who's paying you to post?

N-nobody! I swear! But seriously, the game is good to a certain degree, the developers seem to be greedy douchebags who don't care about what anyone besides a small group of kids want. I don't think Mojang is really going to lose anything (even what's left of their dignity) if they sell out, this could be a great opportunity to improve the game.