Microsoft set to buy Minecraft's developer Mojang According to reports by Leo Kelion Technology desk editor

According to reports, Microsoft is in negotiations to acquire Minecraft's video games studio.

According to some reports, Mojang could be sold for more than $2bn (PS1.2bn).

In June the Swedish studio said that it had sold 54 million copies of its hit world-building game. It's been released on the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 since then, further increasing sales.

Mojang's founder, Markus "Notch" Persson has previously publicly criticised Microsoft.

He said that Microsoft was trying to "destroy the Windows 8 operating platform as an open platform" by certifying third-party titles prior to the release of Windows 8.

He was also a staunch supporter of independent studios. In 2012, he said: "The more studios can be free of the publisher system the more games will be developed out love rather than making a profit."

However, according to Bloomberg news agency, it was Mr Persson who "reached out" to Microsoft just a few months ago.

According to the source, Persson would assist with the transition if the deal was approved. However, it is unlikely that Persson will remain on the job after the deal is completed.

The New York Times reported that Persson will be leaving within six months. However, a person briefed on talks said that Persson was likely to leave within six month. However, Mojang wanted to keep its younger developers.

A spokesman for Microsoft said: "We don't comment on speculation and rumours."

Mojang also declined to comment. Mr Persson did not respond to BBC's questions.

Virtual world

Minecraft was released for the first time in the year 2011. It has since grown into an instant hit and is currently the third most-played game.

The Victoria and Albert Museum in London has hosted a night that explored its design culture, Lego has made spin-off toys, Ordnance Survey has created an island version of mainland Great Britain within the game and Denmark's government also built an exact model of the country.

The story is set in a virtual world composed of cubes of various substances, including dirt and rock. These cubes can be used to construct blocks or transformed into usable raw materials.

The player uses the blocks to construct shelters and weapons to defend their character against the game's zombies and other creatures.

They can also take part in huge construction projects in order to demonstrate their creativity.

One example of extremes was the creation of an online hard drive that could be used for work.
Think Of

Mojang has worked on other games, but they have either failed to meet the standards of Minecraft's success - such as the role-playing game (RPG) Scrolls - or have been put aside before they were completed such as 0x10c an space-themed game that Mr. Persson had been working on up until the end of last year.

'Worried gamers'

The Wall Street Journal was the first to report on negotiations between Mojang and Microsoft and Microsoft, stating that the deal could be finalised this week.

It was noted that this would be the first multibillion-dollar acquisition by Microsoft's chief executive, Satya Nadella, since Nadella took over the company in 2003.

Harry Bradshaw, who has interviewed Mr Persson on the Twitch video site, said that many gamers would be concerned by the news.

"There have been instances in the past of big corporations taking another's game and making it into a massive money-making opportunity, to see what they can achieve," he said.

"Gamers are naturally worried about this.

"And it does confuse me why Mojang would be able to sell out considering that it is the bestselling PC game ever and still sells thousands of copies per day."

One market watcher said that it was unlikely that Microsoft would remove existing Minecraft games from sale for the PlayStation, Mac, Android, Linux and other rival platforms.

He said that Microsoft's systems could be preferred to future products.

Piers Harding-Rolls (lead games analyst at IHS) said that Minecraft is among the most important IPs [intellectual property] in the games space that could be acquirable.

"The brand has the potential for continued growth over the next ten years,"

"So even though it's an investment that is expensive, it still has value for larger companies looking to get the exclusive rights to a highly-engaged franchise."

Minecraft maker shelves 0x10c game

19 August 2013

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IHS

New York Times

Bloomberg

WSJ