Microsoft Acquires Minecraft Maker Mojang For $2.5 Billion

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In a blog post, Microsoft has confirmed it has acquired Mojang, the company behind Minecraft, for a total of $2.5 billion. 

The deal is expected to close by the end of the year. Markus Persson, founder of Mojang and creator of Minecraft who is also known as “Notch”, has confirmed that he will not be joining Microsoft as a part of the acquisition. Persson has confirmed that he will continue to develop cool things, which of course won’t be Minecraft related. 

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Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has shared a few words about the acquisition:

“Gaming is a top activity spanning devices, from PCs and consoles to tablets and mobile, with billions of hours spent each year. Minecraft is more than a great game franchise – it is an open world platform, driven by a vibrant community we care deeply about, and rich with new opportunities for that community and for Microsoft.”

Microsoft’s head of Xbox Phil Spencer also shared his thoughts of the acquisition:

“‘Minecraft’ is one of the most popular franchises of all time. We are going to maintain ‘Minecraft’ and its community in all the ways people love today, with a commitment to nurture and grow it long into the future.”

For all of those who were worried about Minecraft becoming a Microsoft exclusive, the company has addressed that issue. Microsoft says they plan to continue to make Minecraft available on all the platforms it is currently available on, which includes PC, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android, Xbox, and PlayStation. 

Mojang CEO Carl Manneh took a moment to thank all of the players who have made the game into such a big success. Manneh said:

“The ‘Minecraft’ players have taken the game and turned it into something that surpassed all of our expectations. The acquisition by Microsoft brings a new chapter to the incredible story of ‘Minecraft’. As the founders move on to start new projects, we believe the high level of creativity from the community will continue the game’s success far into the future.”

What are your thoughts on Microsoft’s acquisition of Mojang, the company behind the widely successful game called Minecraft? Let us know in the comments below. 

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