Reports are swirling that Microsoft is in the final stages of buying Mojang AB; the makers of the extremely popular Minecraft video game. According to the Wall Street Journal, the buyout would value Mojang at over $2 billion US – and the deal could be signed on the dotted line between the two companies as early as this week. The Stockhold-based Mojang Studio reportedly had $100 million in profit last year.
The acquisition would help boost Microsoft’s Game Studio clout – adding another wildly popular franchise under its belt. However the reports are also currently claiming that the deal would still see Minecraft being developed cross-platform – which is good news for everyone who enjoys the game. The move is rather surprising – given the fact that Mojang founder Markkus “Notch” Persson has always championed the indie gaming scene – and has avidly spoken out about taking venture capital. In more recent times, he’s also heavily criticized Microsoft’s Windows 8 for potentially being “very, very bad for indie games.”
Both Mojang and Microsoft have so far declined to comment publicly on the matter.
Thank you Wall Street Journal for providing us with this information.
Image courtesy of Mojang AB.
