Microsoft to buy Minecraft maker for $2 billion
Source: Mark Johnson
According to a report from the Wall Street Journal Microsoft is looking to fast-track the deal, closing it within a matter of days.
Minecraft had sold nearly 54 million units across multiple games platforms, including PC, mobile, PlayStation and Xbox. Last year Mojang made $115m from revenue of $290m.
Minecraft was originally developed by Markus Persson, who went on to found Mojang to develop and publish the game in 2009. Persson's standpoint has, in the past, been fiercely independant and his company has refused previous attempts at a buyout from Microsoft and games publisher EA.
Persson is reported to own 70 per cent of Mojang, meaning he stands to make $1.4bn if the deal goes ahead. It's understood, however, that he will leave the company upon completion of the deal. It's unclear how other employees would be affected by a buyout, though Microsoft is currently in the process of shedding some 18,000 employees following its acquisition of Nokia.
Some commentators have viewed the move as an attempt to stregthen Microsoft's stable of intellectual property on Xbox. The company could cease development for versions of the game on non-Microsoft platforms, forcing players to use Xbox and Microsoft mobile devices if they want play the popular game.
Nomura analyst Rick Sherlund presents a different point of view. "We don't view this acquisition as a sign of Microsoft's intention to double down on Xbox, but consider it an attempt to better address mobile on a cross-platform basis," he said in a research note.
"This also appears to be consistent with CEO Satya Nadella’s mobile and cloud strategy, as he has stated that 'the single biggest digital life category, measured in both time and money spent, in a mobile-first world is gaming'," he said.
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