Microsoft Set to Buy Minecrafts Developer Mojang Say Reports
Microsoft is preparing to purchase Minecraft's developer Mojang according to reports by Leo Kelion Technology desk editor
The video games studio behind Minecraft is in talks to be taken over by Microsoft according to reports.
It has been suggested that Mojang could sell for more than $2 billion (PS1.2bn).
The Swedish studio claimed that it had sold 54 million copies of its world-building title in June. Since then, the game has been released for the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 which has further increased sales.
Markus "Notch", the founder of Mojang, has previously been openly critical of Microsoft.
In the lead-up to the launch of the Windows 8 operating system, he had claimed that the company was "trying to destroy the PC as an open platform" because it had wanted to certify third-party titles before their release.
He had also been an avid supporter of independent studios declaring in 2012: "The more studios that are able to get out of the publisher system and create games that will be made out of passion rather than profit."
Bloomberg news agency claims it was Mr. Flashants Persson who was the one to "reach out" to Microsoft just a few months ago.
According to the source, Persson would assist with the transition if the deal was approved. However, it is unlikely that Persson will stay on after the deal is concluded.
The New York Times also reported that a person who was briefed on the talks had stated that Mr. Persson was scheduled to depart within six months, but added that Mojang was keen to hold on to its younger developers.
A spokesman for Microsoft said: "We don't comment on rumour and speculation."
Mojang also declined to make a statement. The BBC's questions were not addressed by Mr. Persson.
Virtual world
Minecraft was released for the first time in 2011. It has since evolved into an instant hit and is now the third most popular game.
The Victoria and Albert Museum in London has hosted a night that explored its design culture, Lego has made spin-off toys, Ordnance Survey has created a version of mainland Great Britain within the game, and Denmark's government has also built an accurate model of their country.
The story is set in a virtual world comprised of cubes made of various materials, such as dirt and rock. The majority of them can be used as building blocks, or refined into usable raw materials.
The blocks can be used to build shelters or make weapons to defend themselves against the zombies and other creatures that are in the game.
They can also take part in large-scale construction projects and showcase their talents.
One extreme recent example involved the creation of a functional virtual hard drive.
Mojang has also worked on other games, but they have either not achieved Minecraft's popularity - for instance, the role-playing game (RPG) Scrolls - or been shelved before completion such as 0x10c which is a space-themed title that Mr. Persson was working on since the end of last year.
'Worried gamers'
The Wall Street Journal was first to report negotiations between Mojang and Microsoft and Microsoft, stating that the deal could be completed this week.
It also noted that this would be the first multibillion-dollar acquisition by Satya Nadella (Microsoft's chief executive) since he took over the management of the company. Flash ants
Harry Bradshaw, who interviewed Mr. Persson via Twitch and stated that a lot of gamers would be worried about the news.
He noted that there have been instances in the past where large corporations have taken someone else's game, and turned it into a huge money-flip to test the amount they could make,"
"Gamers will naturally be concerned about this.
"It is a mystery to me what the reason is Mojang would make a sale when it is the most played PC game ever and still sells thousands of copies per day."
One market watcher stated that it was unlikely that Microsoft would remove existing Minecraft games from the sale on the PlayStation, Mac and Android, Linux, or other competing platforms.
He also said that Microsoft's systems could be given preference when it comes to future products.
"Minecraft is among the top IPs [intellectual properties] in the games space that could be acquired," said Piers Harding-Rolls the lead games analyst at the consulting firm IHS.
"The brand has the potential to continue for the next 10 years,
"So, even though it is an expensive investment, it still has value for larger companies that want to get exclusive rights to a highly-engaged franchise."
Minecraft maker shelves 0x10c game
19 August 2013
Twitch
IHS
New York Times
Bloomberg
WSJ
