What would the acquisition of Mojang by Microsoft mean for Minecraft?

GameZone's Lance Liebl: "As both a member of media and as a gamer, I'm intrigued by this potential acquisition and what it could mean for Minecraft in the future."

[Riggans42]

As long as they keep it multi-platform it doesn't bother me that Microsoft is buying it. Also, does this mean that Mojang is only going to be doing Minecraft stuff moving forward?

[BitbyDeath]

Yep, prepare to see some really awesome exclusive minecraft....
avatars

[irishyort]

@BitbyDeath bubble up... very funny!

[bmf7364]

It's not a matter of keeping the sales up for it as much as it is "supporting" the PSN versions. Valve cut off TF2 updates on console in 2008 but sales still sort-of continued of the Orange Box. People would still be able to buy Minecraft on PS4 but to won't be a "moreover updated" Xbox version.

[aviator189]

The game will keep going like it is now on all platforms with patches and updates.
However, Microsoft platforms could see exclusive content and a potential Minecraft 2 could end up exclusive on xbox, pc, and handhelds. I'm just taking a guess though.

[Antnee534]

Notch is making a sequel already

[jackanderson1985]

Not much. Mojang don't own the ip. It's owned by notch in a separate company

[aviator189]

Really? Which company? I don't think such an expensive deal would go through unless Microsoft got the rights to the ip as well. In several of the articles I'm reading, Microsoft is clearly acquiring the minecraft franchise with minecraft sequel comments.

[jackanderson1985]

don't know the name of the company but last paragraph lays out the fee paid to licence minecraft which is owned by a separate company

http://www.gamesindustry.bi...

[aviator189]

Ah, I see.
Well, the only way I see this deal making any sense then is if Notch offered to sell his minecraft ip rights as well.
Otherwise...$2Bn just for a developer doesn't add up.
I'm sure we'll get a better picture of the final details in a while.

Update:
Ah, here -> http://www.geek.com/games/m...

The $2Bn is for both Mojang and the Minecraft IP.

[luis_spartano]

It would mean the death of the studio, just like every studio Microsoft buys.

[aviator189]

I don't imagine Microsoft would screw over anyone with this purchase.
I believe their primary goal would be to get minecraft into as many hands as possible on all platforms. Minecraft generates good revenues and profits and would provide a good boost to their xbox division (possible justification to shareholders that the xbox business is good for Microsoft).

[NukaCola]

LoL you're joking right? MS will release an Xbone exclusive, then a pior port to 360 and PC down the road. The franchise will slowly die.

[aviator189]

I'm just giving an honest assessment on what a big company like ms would do with a huge, huge property like minecraft. Things are put into better perspective when you shareholders constantly harassing Microsoft on getting their xbox division together and make decent profits and yoy growth. If I was charged with minecraft and was leading xbox, I'd keep the game open to as many platforms as I can.

Now, I don't know their true intentions, but feel free to disagree.

[Spotie]

It would be them trying to buy more talent, rather than developing it.

[gangsta_red]

And what talent haven't they developed?

And what's the difference, do you want MS to take a bunch of college kids fresh out of video game school who never made a game in their life and leave it up to them to develop games for Xbox?

Or would you rather them buy another 1st party studio to add to their other 1st party studios to make games for the Xbox? Don't bother answering, we all know you hate MS and the Xbox so no matter what they do you would complain.

More studios mean more games, isn't that what gamers want for their system? Or now it matters how they got their?

[700p]

you cant develop talent without buying talent.

[Imalwaysright]

@ Hicken ´

Sony bought many studios too including Naugthy Dog which is, according to sony fanboys, the bestest and most talented dev studio in the world. Studios being bought by the big 3 isn't nothing new so what exactly is your point?

[snarls200]

look at the quality of games nd has made since being bought by sony and compare it to the quality off games rare has made since being bought by ms.

[qwerty676]

State of the Art, [FUN]ction Studios, Good Science, NP, and Platform Next.

are all first party studios announced this year from Microsoft, so i dont really get your point?

[maniacmayhem]

Once again I see you are proven wrong Hicken, I would add to the fact that MS announced State of the Art, [FUN]ction Studios, Good Science, NP, and Platform Next as new 1st party studios but this has already been brought to your attention.

I would also like to know what talent MS hasn't developed.

[tehpees3]

Just another studio for them to mismanage. See Rare and Bungie (the latter admitting to separating from Microsoft because of their control).

[Rik_Mayall]

Rare lost all of its talent before MS scraped up the remnants and MS still has a stake in Bungie.

[FullmetalAlchemist]

Minecraft 2, Minecraft 3, Minecraft Wars, Minecraft ODST...

[OldDude]

Does that make the AI Mitana?

[kneon]

You forgot the minecraft TV show ;)

[DafunkyRebel]

Don't forget Minecraft Reach, never forget Reach

[ape007]

yeah at least reach not shadow fall :x

[Illusive_Man]

Minecraft and other Mojang titles become a larger social media platform, larger world's powered by Azure, perhaps a boost to the Windows Phone. Gotta think more than just gaming. If MS just wanted it for games the could have went on a shopping spree with that 2 billion. Hell they probably could have bought most of Playstation if they wanted. The move was strategic. MS knows something we don't, and they couldn't risk Google or Amazon getting them first.

[jnemesh]

What's REALLY funny, is I could see Notch selling it to MS, then everyone at Mojang quits and forms a new company. MS is left with an aging IP, and no talent. Mojang pockets the $2 billion and goes on to create the next big game!

(see also what happened after MS bought Rare...same deal, different names)

[OldDude]

You're right, that is funny... /s
Hate much?

[bleedsoe9mm]

that could happen at any studio at any time , half of naughty do could quit tomorrow because sony is making them do a 5th uncharted game as soon as they get done this one . just a question of management being smart enough to let the creative people be creative .

[Remy_S]

They could have formed new first party studios, but no. More wasteful spending from microshaft.

[TheGrimReaper0011]

What does it mean for Minecraft?

Nothing .... Aboslutely ... nothing.

Minecraft is already on every system under the sun. And the systems it's not on yet, have been confirmed to release in the next month.

I truly dont see the point in this =/

[irishyort]

What's the point. Hasn't Mojang only created 1 popular game?

Soooo.... It really doesn't mean that much.

Now if Microsoft was to buy say.. Nintendo... That would mean a great deal, but Mojang, not even a blip on the radar IMO.