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[The Dear Leader]

I think the impact of this deal depends entirely on the quality and popularity of Mojang's next game. I don't think they would remove Minecraft from non-Microsoft platforms so the benefit of the purchase doesn't make a lot of sense right now. Unless Microsoft knows something about their next game and is extremely confident in it, the deal seems non beneficial to both parties.

 

[EBE]

HOW MUCH MONEY??

 

[kadotsu]

Microsoft: what is ps vita

They can sleep easy now. Their biggest threat is gone with the VITA version denied.

 

[Leflus]

Microsoft: what is ps vita

Sony: We don't know

 

[Ferrio]

I think the impact of this deal depends entirely on the quality and popularity of Mojang's next game. I don't think they would remove Minecraft from non-Microsoft platforms so the benefit of the purchase doesn't make a lot of sense right now. Unless Microsoft knows something about their next game and is extremely confident in it, the deal seems non beneficial to both parties.

Hahahhahaah

Seriously.. no disrespect for the Mojang crew and notch... but they're a pretty piss poor developer.

 

[Trey]

It would be really, really interesting if they bought Mojang but kept Minecraft multiplatform, though. I've wondered if MS might move in that direction as sales of Xbone peter off. Imagine if Halo 6 launched on both Xbone and PS4. Sales would be astronomical.

*PC

Sony fans have made it a point of pride to turn their nose up at Halo.

 

[bishoptl]

Sony: We don't know

lawd

 

[VinFTW]

Sony: We don't know

Lmao. Well played.

 

[Mikey Jr.]

Microsoft: what is ps vita

A miserable pile of secrets.

 

[rainking187]

This is interesting news. If I were Microsoft I wouldn't buy Mojang for Minecraft, I'd buy it, push for a MC sequel, and make it Xbox only. Duh, right?

The problem is though what could you possibly add to Minecraft 2 that people wouldn't just mod into Minecraft on PC?

 

[AmyS]

Why not pour that 2 Billion into developing your next generation console Microsoft ?

 

[efyu_lemonardo]

Another thing this thread makes me realize (once again) is how desperately Nintendo needs a new hit with the kids.

 

[jem0208]

The problem is though what could you possibly add to Minecraft 2 that people wouldn't just mod into Minecraft on PC?

Proper graphics engine that doesn't run like crap?

 

[iamjohn]

Why? It's not like it's the first time a platform holder has bought a developer.

I hate seeing MS buying all these companies. I don't know exactly why but it leaves a sour taste in my mouth.

 

[GodofWine]

MS could keep this on all platforms, forever...maybe just have timed exclusivity. I mean, the game prints money with each sale, it could be released in its current state forever on every platform, forever and just be pure profit.

Plus merchandise.

I think its worth more to them that way than as an exclusive.

 

[Exis]

This could be cool, Microsoft has that kids programming tool already and this would be a solid fit.
http://research.microsoft.com/en-us/projects/kodu/

 

[Black Republican]

How did crazubuttocks not leak something this big? we shoulda heard something about a deal like this weeks ago no?

 

[twobear]

*PC

Sony fans have made it a point of pride to turn their nose up at Halo.

There's this shocking thing about PS4 which is that it's not only being bought by Sony fans.

 

[MrCunningham]

MS could keep this on all platforms, forever...maybe just have timed exclusivity. I mean, the game prints money with each sale, it could be released in its current state forever on every platform, forever and just be pure profit.

Plus merchandise.

I have this feeling that they would keep it on PC, Mac and Linux (it uses Java so runs in all three environments), iOS and Android, but kill off the PlayStation versions.

 

[travisbickle]

Can't see this happening, but I tend to view smaller devs as believing in expanded audiences and not locking ip to a single platform.

 

[Sydle]

Well, Spencer said he wanted more IP. Wow.

I highly doubt they'd make it Xbox or Windows exclusive. It doesn't fit Nadella's mobile-first, cloud-first direction, or his motion to get their apps and services across as many devices as possible. Heck, even their upcoming Smartband is strongly rumored to be fully compatible with Android and iOS.

Vanilla Minecraft would make the $2B back in its lifetime if all they did was cash in on the IP royalties across devices, so there's little risk in losing money on the IP. That can't be all though.

I wonder if this could be their splash entrance to games as a service in their mobile-first, cloud-first future? Making a cloud-powered version to play on any device would fit Nadella's narrative. I mean, he did acknowledge that gaming has the most time and money spent in a mobile world and he did mention that Xbox contributes technology to the company at large. Cloud-powered Minecraft gives them good reason to advance their online platform infrastructure, cloud compute, and data-driven personalization for a HUGE game.

I sense a AR and VR play here as well. It would probably be the strongest marketing tool they could wish for in selling a new peripheral like their rumored Fortaleza AR glasses. Seeing as how they're good partners with Facebook they'd probably partner with them on it for a VR version? This gives Microsoft some leverage with partners to dig in on development tools for new user interfaces for AR and VR.

I have a feeling this isn't going to happen though.

 

[Guevara]

How did crazubuttocks not leak something this big? we shoulda heard something about a deal like this weeks ago no?

The M&A teams at a big company like Microsoft are their own unit, separate from gaming. It's very possible no one at Xbox heard about this until very recently.

 

[The Hermit]

I think for Notch this is a briliant move, but for MS is not as good... If true I will be really curious how MS will expand this already expansive game.

 

[Amir0x]

Microsoft: what is ps vita

Sony: We don't know

lmfao

*can't breathe*

 

[Freeman]

MS could keep this on all platforms, forever...maybe just have timed exclusivity. I mean, the game prints money with each sale, it could be released in its current state forever on every platform, forever and just be pure profit.

Plus merchandise.

I think its worth more to them that way than as an exclusive.

And they would kill Minecraft with that, it wouldn't make Xbox One beat PS4 nor Windows phone beat Android and iOS. They would never get the 2B$ back and a alternative game would become a success in the other platforms. Not to mention the fact the game is already on all platforms. MS would also manage to piss of anyone who likes Minecraft and doesn't own a MS console.

This is like buying MGM to save HD DVD sales.

 

[Krakn3Dfx]

Minecraft 2 may come to the PC in addition to the XB1, but we all know the modding community will be completely denied, and that's a huge part of the longevity of Minecraft on the PC right now.

Console only gamers will scoff because they've never had that sort of freedom, why create skins/map textures to distribute for the community when we can let MS sell them to us for $1-$5 per pack, right?

 

[DoubleTake]

All this means is no more updates for you PS3/PS4 minecraft plebs lol. Wow.

 

[miDnIghtEr20C]

That's the thing it has already sold gangbusters. You get on things on the ground level, not when there's a big of it declining.

2 bil is a ton of money to recoup....

Part 1 has sold awesome! But what about part 2? Didn't COD MW2 sell huge compared to COD 4?

 

[AbortedWalrusFetus]

The M&A teams at a big company like Microsoft are their own unit, separate from gaming. It's very possible no one at Xbox heard about this until very recently.

Not to mention leaking that sort of information, even internally, comes under strict financial controls.

 

[Orbis Tabula]

Hmm. I have a pretty hard time believing this. It just doesn't seem like the kind of thing Notch would do. But then...2 billion dollars...

 

[c0de]

Why not pour that 2 Billion into developing your next generation console Microsoft ?

Who said they don't?

 

[jem0208]

Minecraft 2 may come to the PC in addition to the XB1, but we all know the modding community will be completely denied, and that's a huge part of the longevity of Minecraft on the PC right now.

Console only gamers will scoff because they've never had that sort of freedom, why create skins/map textures to distribute for the community when we can let MS sell them to us for $1-$5 per pack, right?

Why are you assuming that mods will stopped?

MS don't have a history of preventing modding. On PC at least.

 

[borghe]

Seems like a horrible purchase for MS. I know they need first party studios, but buying a one hit wonder seems risky, and paying top dollar at the height of that one hit's popularity seems like wasting money. It's like signing Spice Girls to a five movie contract paid up front after Wannabe topped the charts for the 6th consecutive week.

 

[1.21Gigawatts]

All this means is no more updates for you PS3/PS4 minecraft plebs lol. Wow.

These versions were developed by a 3rd party and payed for by Sony.
Why wouldn't they be supported in the future?

 

[Steverulez]

These versions were developed by a 3rd party and payed for by Sony.
Why wouldn't they be supported in the future?

Because the IP they're based on is now owned by a competitor? I mean I'm sure they wouldn't just cut them dead straight away, but I doubt there would be a big period of support

 

[kazinova]

Why not pour that 2 Billion into developing your next generation console Microsoft ?

Given they have almost 150 billion in assets, they could do both...

 

[WooHooAlex]

This is still a rumor? Or is it official now?

 

[HighResTomato]

These versions were developed by a 3rd party and payed for by Sony.
Why wouldn't they be supported in the future?

Because... ownership of IP. Minecraft of PS3/4 would receive content covered by the contracts they formed with Mojang. Anything new would be up to Microsoft.

 

[Diddy Kong]

Sony: We don't know

Iwata: (laughs)

 

[Steverulez]

This is still a rumor? Or is it official now?

If it was official, you would know

 

[Harlock]

I wonder what happenned with that patent troll over server autentication. Microsoft had settled with them.

 

[Nightengale]

This is still a rumor? Or is it official now?

Everything's a rumour until confirmation.

 

[twobear]

Given they have almost 150 billion in assets, they could do both...

How many times over the years have we heard 'MS has so much money they could do that AND develop their own games', and then, they've gone on to not developer their own games.

Question mark.

 

[jem0208]

This is still a rumor? Or is it official now?

Rumour

If this was official this thread would be moving much faster.

 

[Leflus]

This is still a rumor? Or is it official now?

Still a rumour.... hopefully it stays that way. The money should be spent elsewhere.

 

[Freeman]

Who said they don't?

Reality?

 

[PseudoViper]

Another game will now go to shit

 

[Dire]

This is interesting news. If I were Microsoft I wouldn't buy Mojang for Minecraft, I'd buy it, push for a MC sequel, and make it Xbox only. Duh, right?

I think this is way too much money for it to be just an exclusive grab, particularly after they went that route with Titanfall and ended up shelling out one can only imagine how much money on a game with no legs that sold a whopping 3million or so copies.

I imagine the point here is simply to try to monetize the life out of Minecraft. That means releasing a sequel on a ton of platforms, but trying to sell updates as DLC and including microtransactions as well. Rather than have it as XBone exclusive I imagine we'd see stuff like XBone exclusive content and perhaps even some sort of deal like you get free content updates if, and only if, you are an XBone Live gold member.

 

[Pound_lb003]

Because the IP they're based on is now owned by a competitor? I mean I'm sure they wouldn't just cut them dead straight away, but I doubt there would be a big period of support

They (Sony) paid for the license, so there's probably a fair period on that. And unless they want to refund whatever the licensing fees are I guess.

 

[Paskil]

This is one of those deals you hear about and think a year or two down the line, "Wow, that was fucking stupid."

Besides Minecraft, there is practically nothing there. The 54 million copies are already sold and the money is in Notch's pocket. I just cannot comprehend how they are worth two billion as a company, and that this money could be invested in a more fitting company. Mojang is tiny.