Microsoft expected to announce Minecraft deal on Monday

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Microsoft is all set to announce a $2.5 billion deal to buy Mojang, maker of Minecraft on Monday. The deal, which has been rumoured since earlier in the week, is being aimed at bringing more users to Microsoft’s mobile platform rather than the PC or Xbox, according to Reuters.

So far, Microsoft hasn’t commented on the deal, saying that they don’t like to discuss rumours, but the potential for the game on Windows Phone devices is likely to be very compelling for the company. Minecraft creator Markus "Notch" Persson has previously stated that he wouldn’t design a Windows Phone version of the game because the market share for the OS is so small.


According to Dave Bisceglia, Chief Executive of independent game studio Tap Lab: “It seems like Microsoft is looking at Mojang and Minecraft as a way to tap into this enormous cultural phenomenon, If you look at iOS, Minecraft has been a top-grossing game for quite some time, if Microsoft could on Windows phones give players a unique and compelling experience that you can't get on the other platforms, that could be a driver to sell devices to existing Minecraft fans."

Minecraft creator Markus "Notch" Persson has been no stranger to turning down potential business in the past, famously cancelling an Oculus Rift port of the game in March when it was revealed that Facebook had purchased Oculus VR for $2 billion. Considering how outspoken Notch has been about his displeasure for Windows in the past, when he told Microsoft to stop "trying to ruin the PC as an open platform," this deal would be an interesting divergence from his previous beliefs.

Despite these comments, Notch has not only joked about endorsing companies for $2 billion, but also asked back in July if anyone would like to buy out his shares in the company as he was fed up with the hate coming from players of the game.

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Source: http://www.neowin.net/news/microsoft-expected-to-announce-minecraft-deal-on-monday

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"Microsoft expected to announce Minecraft deal on Monday" :: Login/Create an Account :: 79 comments

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CHPPosted:

i never seem to want minecraft when they have deals, if they have some sort of next gen deal i will probably pick it up when it is released.

YokePosted:

Ohh sweet! Looking forward to this deal!

gtapro151Posted:

i dont even like mincraft in fact i make fun of my friends that play it but.....not goodnot goodnot goodnot goodnot good we need little guys with great ideas not monopolys :(

sawnoff_shotfunPosted:

please don't sellout
please

TTG_DIGITALPosted:

Nasus
Liability It seems that all the large companies are buying out the smaller independent companies which I think is sad. I know that is how the world works but I also believe that MS or Sony should give them a while to show that they are capable of producing a game that everyone likes and then the company would expand and create a wide variety of other games.


They been producing minecraft for along time. MS buying it won't really change anything, most likely notch will still be lead game developer of it. Mojang also said they don't really make much money off minecraft so the money from microsoft would really be nice.


I bet microsoft makes updates for it to start bringing some money back in. i mean why wouldnt they?

AchePosted:

The deal is most likely going to go through, sadly...

I mean, who would give up a 2 billion dollar offer.

DisecPosted:

Liability It seems that all the large companies are buying out the smaller independent companies which I think is sad. I know that is how the world works but I also believe that MS or Sony should give them a while to show that they are capable of producing a game that everyone likes and then the company would expand and create a wide variety of other games.


They been producing minecraft for along time. MS buying it won't really change anything, most likely notch will still be lead game developer of it. Mojang also said they don't really make much money off minecraft so the money from microsoft would really be nice.

VeraPosted:

NikolaiLoverG935
vWatsonc So does this mean they can just take minecraft away from the Playstation store because that's not cool, also Notch said the he was fed up with the hate coming from players of the game, he needs to understand that trolls are everywhere on the internet and because his game is so popular it attracts more trolls and haters so come on Notch don't use it as an excuse to be a sell out !


They most likely won't do that. I mean, there are other games that MS owns, and still sells on the PS. This just means that all the money goes to MS.

This is pretty cool though. I don't often play Minecraft anymore, mainly because they didn't offer me the $5 deal on Xbone even though I've bought and played it on 360.


yeah i highly doubt minecraft will sell there game just to xbox,the market is still probably massive on playstation,xbox are just trying to convince potential buyers to move to xbox and play minecraft on xbox rather than playstation

-CorgiPosted:

vWatsonc So does this mean they can just take minecraft away from the Playstation store because that's not cool, also Notch said the he was fed up with the hate coming from players of the game, he needs to understand that trolls are everywhere on the internet and because his game is so popular it attracts more trolls and haters so come on Notch don't use it as an excuse to be a sell out !


They most likely won't do that. I mean, there are other games that MS owns, and still sells on the PS. This just means that all the money goes to MS.

This is pretty cool though. I don't often play Minecraft anymore, mainly because they didn't offer me the $5 deal on Xbone even though I've bought and played it on 360.

HippieSabotagePosted:

vWatsonc So does this mean they can just take minecraft away from the Playstation store because that's not cool, also Notch said the he was fed up with the hate coming from players of the game, he needs to understand that trolls are everywhere on the internet and because his game is so popular it attracts more trolls and haters so come on Notch don't use it as an excuse to be a sell out !


they shouldnt be able to do that.


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