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[bombshell]

Mojang is the definition of a one-hit wonder studio.

 

[OneEightZero]

Why? Why would either party be willing?

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

 

[Freeman]

I don't understand this logic as an explanation for why he would sell. Notch pretty much handed off Minecraft to Jeb a long time ago and has been doing whatever he wants since.

To cash out?

I'm surprised it took this long.

But MS arrived late to the party since Minecraft is already on PS4, could they somehow make the game unavailable?

 

[Tigress]

Goddamnit, Mojang, make the vita version of the game before this happens....

 

[Holographix]

Minecraft is still being updated. Frequently. With new DLC, too. I'm not saying that the entire $2 billion will be earned back in exclusive Minecraft DLC, but some of you guys may be underestimating how crazily succesful the game is.

They've sold 54 million copies of Minecraft. That makes it one of the most popular games ever: http://www.gamespot.com/articles/mi...es-nears-54-million-copies-sold/1100-6420724/

Like I said, Minecraft is the only worthwhile property, and is already hugely successful on all platforms this won't stop it from being successful.

 

[Steverulez]

I thought Notch despised Microsoft?

If he did, he wouldn't have partnered with them (and 4J Studios) for Minecraft XBLA and then had it as a timed exclusive for 18 months~

Presumably the relationship is pretty good (not necessarily sell your company good but still)

 

[djplaeskool]

Oh Damn

 

[RedHotChimiChanga]

Is Mojang making anything after Scrolls? That game kinda dropped off the map.

 

[Aquamarine]

It'll be interesting seeing a Microsoft-owned company proliferate on PlayStation devices.

 

[-MD-]

Rare made more than one good game.

Was more referring to them buying Rare for a large sum of money and not much coming from it. Like you said though Rare actually made more than one game and it wasn't a fluke.

 

[DaBuddaDa]

I have gotten the impression, from various public lamenting over the past year or so, that notch is sick of being in the spotlight and has no interest in being the figurehead/owner of something so big as Mojang is now. It wouldn't come as that big of a surprise if he sells it off and rides into the sunset.

 

[StoopKid]

Ms could probably get gta 6 exclusive for this kind of money.

 

[S0N0S]

I don't believe it. Bad buy for both when Minecraft is already on everything and there's no sign of anything else coming out of Mojang with comparable potential.

First, it was google buying twitch, then Activision buying TakeTwo. Now it's MS and Mojang.

 

[yuraya]

Minecraft 2 with better graphics and power of the cloud will most likely sell a shit ton.

 

[alr1ght]

Mojang is the definition of a one-hit wonder studio.

That's a pretty big one, though.

 

[iMax]

cue ECW-style YOU SOLD OUT chants

But yeah, it'd be pretty hard to turn down $2 billion.

They bought in.

 

[d00d3n]

Would be a megaton if true. Two billion seems like a lot, but even if Minecraft has peaked in sales, I guess there is the merchandize rights and the opportunity to make big money on a sequel.

 

[Alienous]

Yikes. This won't be good for anyone.

 

[Persona7]

I don't get it. Minecraft is already on PS4 isn't it? What's the point of buying Mojang if they don't get Minecraft as an exclusive?

Receiving profits from every version of the game available and merchandising profits.

 

[Krakn3Dfx]

Does that mean if this were true, Playstation Minecraft would be gone?

Microsoft bought Skype and Skype is still on Vita. I'm sure they wouldn't pull Minecraft, but no Sony platform would get a sequel.

 

[Rapstah]

I have gotten the impression, from various public lamenting over the past year or so, that notch is sick of being in the spotlight and has no interest in being the figurehead/owner of something so big as Mojang is now.

Absolutely my impression too. However, I'm not sure what you're buying if Notch isn't part of the Mojang you buy. A nice Stockholm office and some licenses?

 

[NinjaCarrot]

Big rumors like this tend to be true more often let's face it.

Makes no sense from MS' standpoint though IMO. I mean I know Minecraft sells like hotcakes, but you can't really turn it into a franchise.... can you?

Bet that's what people said about Angry birds

 

[OneEightZero]

The title of this thread should literally be $$$$$MICROSOFT$$$$$$$MOJANG.

 

[Cybit]

People understimate the value of a succesful IP. They are super popular with kids. They can make minecraft 2, exclusive for MS platforms. Minecraft sidescrollers, minecraft racing, etc.

Minecraft is equivalent of SMB for a new generation.

This. Minecraft is basically the intro to gaming for a whole generation of 5-18 year olds right now.

You put Minecraft 2 in 5-10 years on X1 / PC exclusively? Bam.

That said, they are paying WAY too much. This is buying high at the wrong time.

 

[sörine]

Why would they do that? There is zero sense in this.

Microsoft publishes on certain platforms and not others. The platforms they publish on will keep it, those they don't won't.

 

[Tempesta di Fuoco]

Now Minecraft will really never be on WiiU...

It won't be on Sony systems either.

 

[R3TRO]

2 billion?

What a waste.

 

[Dega]

Yeah I just don't get it. Why wait til now, when it's on competitors' systems?

MS has allowed their properties on other systems/devices many many times before. It makes them more money.

 

[zomgbbqftw]

This is a rumour that has circulated around the City a few times already, just like the Amazon buying Xbox rumours I don't think they have much credibility. The asking price is just too high and Minecraft is already out on a whole host of non-Xbox/Windows platforms, too much of their revenue is tied up on platforms not controlled by MS.

The only reason in favour is basically that MS have a lot of cash floating around in their European operation that they don't want to repatriate to the US which means they may decide to invest it in Europe and overpay for Mojang just like they overpaid for Skype.

The other possibility is that someone from MS told WSJ they are going to buy the developer of Minecraft on Xbox which means 4J and there is a mix up. I could definitely see MS being interested in 4J, they have a history of working together and it would definitely put Sony in a bind over continued support for Minecraft on PS.

 

[Maintenance]

Bet that's what people said about Angry birds

And look how it crashed and burned, compared to King and etc.

 

[SenjutsuSage]

I don't see what's in it for Microsoft. They already have Minecraft on all their systems. Do they want to retroactively cancel the PS3/4/V/iOS/Android versions?

Could be a super profitable property to own with how well it's apparently doing on other platforms and such.

 

[Tenki]

Notch is rich as fuck. Why would he sell the company?

I'm sure you wouldn't reject 2 billions either.

 

[Boke1879]

This does seem pretty odd. 2 billion seems like a lot for this studio. And honestly that's a lot of money to buy a new studio instead of just investing in your own.

 

[Steverulez]

Receiving profits from every version of the game available and merchandising profits.

And then making "Minecraft 2.0" or whatever bigger and obviously only releasing on their platforms

Spoiler

With the power of the cloud

 

[NMHD]

wait. what

 

[jayu26]

All I have to say is two fucking billion.

 

[StoopKid]

Capcom is next

Spoiler

I know nothing

.

 

[Odrion]

What's the strategic outlook here? Ride Minecraft's success out? Make sequels?

Microsoft likes their teams singular in their purpose. 343 is the Halo team, Lionheart is the Fable team, the Forza dudes are the Forza team.

Of course Mojang will now be the Minecraft team.

 

[Dongs Macabre]

Do they also get the rights to the Cliffhorse IP?

 

[LycanXIII]

Twist: Notch is keeping the Minecraft IP.

 

[Freeman]

2 Billion? I would much rather buy Capcom, 2K or Ubisoft.

 

[Deadbeat]

SOLD. 2 billion? Party it up for life.

 

[Jakeh111]

2 Billion for a company that has one huge hit?

 

[Jomjom]

Two billion is less than couch change to MS. Wow if this is true.

I think desperate nintendo is best nintendo is now replaced with MS.

 

[RedHotChimiChanga]

2 billion?

Wasteful.

Microsoft is known to waste money.

1 billion on the Kin that got scrapped a week after release. lol

 

[Bsigg12]

Notch is rich as fuck. Why would he sell the company?

Stake in Microsoft?

 

[fargofallout]

As much as it would go against what he (seemingly) stands for, I can understand why Notch would do it. That's serious money, and he could dick around and do little pet projects with a team of a few people for forever. Microsoft, though, I don't get. True, they would own Minecraft, but I assume that game has already made most of the money it will make. Is a potential Minecraft 2 really worth $2 billion? How do you even make a new Minecraft?

 

[The Llama]

And I just bought it again on PS4. Welp.

RIP Vita version.

 

[Jindujun]

I find this whole situation amusing and, honestly, wish it's true.

Mainly because of Notchs outbursts when facebook bought Oculus Rift and his whole hate crusade against Windows.

If this goes through he'll just show he's the same as everyone else, crazed for more.

 

[thefit]

Is there a minecraft 2 in development or something? Because I get that a lot of people play minecraft just like a lot of people play angry birds and candy crush but those single hits are not going to go on forever. If this rumor is true then MS is on a scorched earth path to get their console above water and its very possible that its true they always do this when they are struggling to catch up like buying nokia.