Notch is the guy who told MS to "stop trying to ruin the PC as an open platform" when they contacted him about "certifying" Minecraft for Win8. Something tells me he's not going to sell off the company to MS so they can make Minecraft a platform exclusive. (Sure, they're offering a lot, but the guy's already comfortably well off. He wouldn't be hurting if he refused. Assuming any of this is even true.) It'll be interesting to see how this pans out.
WSJ: ''Mojang to be bought by Microsoft'
- Thread starter Thomper
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They're reporting heavily on the story in swedish news this morning and a pretty well connected gaming journalist said he got confirmation from a source close to Mojang, while the CEO gave him a "no comment", which is pretty telling coming from a usually transparent and open indie company.
No Man's Sky is coming to PC too later.
Honestly speaking, I think he's done after this deal goes through. I get the feeling he sees the writing on the wall and is ready to cash in his chips and not have to deal with gamers and the industry anymore.
zomgbbqftw
Banned
Looks like it is going ahead. Minecraft is still going to be published and updated on every platform available. I'm not even sure if Mojang will be part of the Xbox division, it may be incorporated into a new software division separate to Xbox to ensure there is no conflict of interest and Minecraft continues to be supported on all platforms. Making anything exclusive to Xbox now or in the future would be value destroying.
Also, $2bn to get Minecraft on Windows Phone. LOL.
Also, $2bn to get Minecraft on Windows Phone. LOL.
I think he was done a long time ago. Smart move, I'd say. If it ends up being true, the Facebook crap he talked about really paints a picture of his character.
That said, he probably already has "fuck you" money, so I guess it is what it is.
Wiktor
Member
Yeah, but imagine how many of those cool smaller pc titles he could fund with those 2 billions
I honestly don't see how this is remotely worth it for MS. Minecraft is done and out on everything imaginable, they can't use it as a tool to push any of their platforms any more. And other than Minecraft, Mojang just isn't particularly relevant -- certainly not $2B relevant.
If I was Notch I'd take the money and laugh all the way to the bank.
If I was Notch I'd take the money and laugh all the way to the bank.
Okay, but inarguably they did a lot better with the 360 than they did with the OG Xbox, even though they threw the most money around to try to hoard exclusives for the OG Xbox. It barely helped the Xbox, while the 360 really didn't need it. It's not a reliable strategy which is why no one should be particularly "excited" by its use.
Also if
when
King Beyond the wall
Member
I don't think we'll see a minecraft 2 published by Microsoft arriving on the ps4.
matty2Dfraud
Banned
Microsoft purchases Mojang and pulls Minecraft from every non-MS platform. Hilarity ensues!
Mojang should be left as is for at least 5 more year, so that we can finaly have the official modding API.
Wellit might take 10 ( more ) years actually....
Notch, new projects with huge influx of cash.... you gave me a good laugh.
michaelius
Banned
Ehh must be that new gamer friendly Phil Spencer effect people talked about so much.
NemesisPrime
Banned
They make 200 million profit a year... what is your definition of non-delivering?
I doubt they will do that.
It probably is more hilarious if they keep making money on Sony/Android/Apple platforms.
If this happens... I just expect MC on MS platforms to get much more advanced editions and non-MS platforms to stick with the "original" MC.
Also I expect Notch to get a pretty awesome game designer MS job. Not a bad career move IMHO.
Nah, more I think they're looking to offload Eidios and thier Ips to anyone who is willing to buy. The merger between both hasn't worked out.
I think Eidios would be a great buy for any publisher, and it's clear MS are looking to buy more studios.
I didn't say I wanted them to, more I think they will. As for what aim it serves them, well, Resident Evil, Tomb Raider, Deus Ex, all valuable brands.
Personally I'd like them to buy Capcom, they need the help.
On the other hand it could make a lot of sense if Minecraft's good to go for good now (or Notch wants to form a new studio/work with 4J Studios on Minecraft) while Mojang can grow to do more than Minecraft with Microsoft. Though that makes $2 billion a little crazy versus just... starting a new studio.
zomgbbqftw
Banned
The value of their $2bn purchase would halve and they would have to impair the asset. Minecraft's success in monetary terms comes from being on every kind of platform, just like Skype's success. This purchase is much closer to MS buying Skype than buying the Gears of War IP. It is a diversification using excess cash in their Irish subsidiary. They literally have nothing better to do with the money sloshing around in Europe and repatriating it to the US means it would be subject to corporation tax.
But they don't have the same kind of cash floating around in their Japanese subsidiary and so far the European money has been invested only in Europe.
Plus I just don't think they would buy Japanese focussed publishers and developers only to see the developers all leave and their purchase amount to a few franchises with no one to make them.
I think there will be another round of consolidation within the Japanese games industry, but it is highly unlikely that MS would be involved, there is nothing in it for them.
And then the value of their purchase will crash, they would be pissing away over half of their potential revenue stream by not being on the three fastest growing gaming platforms - iOS, Android and PlayStation.
MarkMclovin
Member
I wonder how the Minecraft toys and other shit with that name is doing. Maybe they something planned that Activision would normally pull off.
Not only that, but a Minecraft 2, not matter how much upgraded it is, would sell a shit tonne.
Not only that, but a Minecraft 2, not matter how much upgraded it is, would sell a shit tonne.
The original MC will remain on every platform imo, but any sequels will be MS only. They'll want to bring all the people who played the game on the likes of PS, or rival smart phones to Microsoft related platforms.
Well doesn't Xbox only make Microsoft $6.7 billion per year - only 8% of the profit Microsoft make as a company. $200 million profit is almost nothing to the investors, but if there is something more to it - any chance of increasing sales of anything else such as a platform or helping develop a brand; indirectly increasing profits or market share in other products/platforms, that is more valuable. Purchase just for the current state of Minecraft would not be the end goal here
Daffy Duck
Member
I wonder if this will push Mojang into doing the Xbox versions of Minecraft instead of 4J and 4J being the PS4/Sony division for porting, thus giving Xbox the same/closest version to PC Minecraft so they have the superior version.
D
Deleted member 125677
Unconfirmed Member
Minecraft 2? At one point it won't matter if it's good, it's just gonna sell.
Triggerhappytel
Member
True; I wouldn't be surprised if other companies like Amazon and Tencent are also interested in buying Mojang.
2. This will be a purchase that benefits Windows Phone and Surface more than Xbox.
3. Sony would not invest this kind of money in a one-hit studio. For context, they paid only $1.5 billion to buy Ericsson's stake in their mobile partnership.
That's what will probably happen, if MS do buy them. Notch will leave as soon as his contract is up, and if he sets up another studio I imagine a lot of the staff would go with him.
I'm inclined to agree; I think creating Minecraft 2 and having it be as big a hit will be a lot more difficult than it seems. Kind of like how Blizzard is struggling making their next MMO 'Titan', having had to go back to the drawing board several times.
EricDiesel
Member
tons of new dimensions? space? vehicles?
If he could do that, close the deal and then be very vocal about what he just did, it would be a lot of fun!
With regards to Capcom, should it happen, I think they'd be buying the Ip's only, and they'd form thier own specialised studio to hande the likes of RE, like they did with Gears. I think only Ono would be kept around tbh, although even then, it's unlikely.
I just don't see MS publishing a possible Minecraft 2 on the PS4, or on a direct rivals console. I mean, MS could make billions if they brought MS word and Office to the Ipad, but they have'nt yet at least.
Chobel
Member
About that, MS Office is available for iPad
http://blogs.office.com/2014/03/27/announcing-the-office-you-love-now-on-the-ipad/
NemesisPrime
Banned
Plenty of stuff to do.
Upping the tech tree for example... maybe different planets... come on... MC is a building game, the sky is the limit here. They can keep adding stuff infinitely.
I may be hesitant about what Microsoft will do with the IP, but people calling it a fad I think are mistaken. Minecraft is easily one of the largest gaming phenomenons of the past decades, and unlike say, Call of Duty, is directly marketable to children (I know there's children's COD merch, but that's just messed up). It's this generations "Pokemon" and Pokemon has been around for around 20 years. I also think the game is far easier to sell to adults than Pokemon. Minecraft will be known as a fad is Mojang/Microsoft let it become a fad. But it could become more quite easily.
Every aquisition is a gamble but this has the potential to be very beneficial to Microsoft. Even though they may make more money in the short term, I just hope they don't go nuts with monetisation and steadily release sequels or expansions that get people excited, not fatigued. But that's just my wishes as a consumer.
Also, while I don't know much about this stuff, I highly doubt they'll cancel the Vita version. Doesn't seem like the best way to create consumer goodwill after an aquisition that will make a huge number of fans very nervous, and it's also a waste of money. But who knows, I guess. They might drop support of non-Microsoft versions early? That would be a bummer.
Anyway, if I was Notch I would take the offer. It's only a videogame, you aren't selling your soul and you can do a lot of good in the world with $2 billion. A crazy amount of good, and have fun at the same time. Who wouldn't want to live like that for the rest of their life? It isn't even like Notch seems that attached to the IP, or that Minecraft seems to hold an extraordinary significance to him. If Minecraft gets wrecked by Microsoft people will be sad, but who can blame Notch/Mojang for taking this deal?
People saying Mojang are a "one hit wonder" - yeah, they are. Microsoft is buying Minecraft. I doubt they are putting much value in the rest of the business, or Mojang's other IPs or future potential. I can see Mojang becoming a studio name for a largely new studio focused on large scale Minecraft development, however.
Every aquisition is a gamble but this has the potential to be very beneficial to Microsoft. Even though they may make more money in the short term, I just hope they don't go nuts with monetisation and steadily release sequels or expansions that get people excited, not fatigued. But that's just my wishes as a consumer.
Also, while I don't know much about this stuff, I highly doubt they'll cancel the Vita version. Doesn't seem like the best way to create consumer goodwill after an aquisition that will make a huge number of fans very nervous, and it's also a waste of money. But who knows, I guess. They might drop support of non-Microsoft versions early? That would be a bummer.
Anyway, if I was Notch I would take the offer. It's only a videogame, you aren't selling your soul and you can do a lot of good in the world with $2 billion. A crazy amount of good, and have fun at the same time. Who wouldn't want to live like that for the rest of their life? It isn't even like Notch seems that attached to the IP, or that Minecraft seems to hold an extraordinary significance to him. If Minecraft gets wrecked by Microsoft people will be sad, but who can blame Notch/Mojang for taking this deal?
People saying Mojang are a "one hit wonder" - yeah, they are. Microsoft is buying Minecraft. I doubt they are putting much value in the rest of the business, or Mojang's other IPs or future potential. I can see Mojang becoming a studio name for a largely new studio focused on large scale Minecraft development, however.
Wiktor
Member
Don't be surprised if in the announcement of this the words "Minecraft" and "sequel" appear together.
I'm not sure if sequels were in Notch's creative vision before, but leveraging sequels as exclusives on their platforms is probably a key point for Microsoft. I doubt Microsoft sees Minecraft as a one-and-done franchise, but probably hopes to turn it into the next Mario or something...in terms of a long string of iterations that are all successful.
Other predictions: the words 'cloud', 'connected-worlds', 'enabled', 'partner' will appear in the press release too to attempt to lend creative authenticity to the decision
Devilgunman
Member
Notch is fucking winner if this is true. He is pretty much done a while ago and his creative mind just couldn't produce anything worthwhile. There is no point for him to sink with his company. Get the cash now and get out of gaming. Start something new.
Eidos died last generation dude, i mean we got one Hitman game in 8 years and it was dire. TR had no tombs lol, Thief was destroyed, only Deus Ex HR was decent, but even then, the game was rushed.
Ideally, I'd like Bethesda to buy, but SE would never sell to a rival.
Earthpainting
Member
I guess we can expect Micecraft 2 in a few years then.
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