Microsoft Acquires Mojang For $2.5 Billion USD

September 16, 2014

In a somewhat surprising move, Microsoft today announced they were purchasing Swedish developer Mojang (Minecraft, Scrolls) for $2.5 Billion USD.

In a post on the Xbox Wire blog, the decision to acquire the company began when Microsoft first approached Mojang to bring Minecraft to the Xbox 360, which since then has gone on to become not only one of the most popular games played on Xbox Live (a staggering two billion hours played), but also one of the most popular games played on the Xbox 360. The acquisition won’t affect development of updates of non-Microsoft versions of Minecraft (i.e. Playstation & mobile versions of the game), and Microsoft did confirm that MINECON will continue next year.

As the purchase is being finalized, Mojang co-founders Markus “Notch” Persson, Carl Manneh & Jakob Poser will be leaving the company. While Manneh & Poser haven’t spoken publicly on the matter, Notch posted a blog piece explaining his reasoning in leaving the company – citing a belief that he didn’t have the connection to his fans that he thought he did, following an EULA situation that he wasn’t involved in.

Mojang joins such esteemed company within the Microsoft Games Studios group as Turn 10 (Forza Motorsport), 343 Industries (Halo) & Lionhead Studios (Fable).

  • October 3, 2024
    On Astro Bot & The Art of Celebration
  • October 2, 2024
    Age of Mythology Retold Is Like A Warm Hug
  • September 18, 2024
    REVIEW: The Plucky Squire
  • September 3, 2024
    What The Heck is Concord?
  • August 27, 2024
    REVIEW: Star Wars Outlaws (PS5)
  • August 21, 2024
    Thoughts On Gamescom Opening Night Live 2024
  • August 16, 2024
    Batman: Caped Crusader is Comfort Food, And That’s Fine
  • July 12, 2024
    REVIEW: Anger Foot
  • June 27, 2024
    REVIEW: Destiny 2: The Final Shape
  • June 25, 2024
    I Was Wrong About Stellar Blade
  • June 21, 2024
    Thoughts On 19/06/24 Nintendo Direct
  • May 21, 2024
    REVIEW – Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II
  • Click to load
    More From New Game Plus
Site by GMAC Internet Solutions