Official: Microsoft has bought Mojang AB (Minecraft) for $2.5 billion.

[Xenocity 343]

I don't see myself as a real game developer. I make games because it's fun, and because I love games and I love to program, but I don't make games with the intention of them becoming huge hits, and I don't try to change the world. Minecraft certainly became a huge hit, and people are telling me it's changed games. I never meant for it to do either. It's certainly flattering, and to gradually get thrust into some kind of public spotlight is interesting.

 

A relatively long time ago, I decided to step down from Minecraft development. Jens was the perfect person to take over leading it, and I wanted to try to do new things. At first, I failed by trying to make something big again, but since I decided to just stick to small prototypes and interesting challenges, I've had so much fun with work. I wasn't exactly sure how I fit into Mojang where people did actual work, but since people said I was important for the culture, I stayed.

 

I was at home with a bad cold a couple of weeks ago when the internet exploded with hate against me over some kind of EULA situation that I had nothing to do with. I was confused. I didn't understand. I tweeted this in frustration. Later on, I watched the This is Phil Fish video on YouTube and started to realize I didn't have the connection to my fans I thought I had. I've become a symbol. I don't want to be a symbol, responsible for something huge that I don't understand, that I don't want to work on, that keeps coming back to me. I'm not an entrepreneur. I'm not a CEO. I'm a nerdy computer programmer who likes to have opinions on Twitter.

As soon as this deal is finalized, I will leave Mojang and go back to doing Ludum Dares and small web experiments. If I ever accidentally make something that seems to gain traction, I'll probably abandon it immediately.

 

Considering the public image of me already is a bit skewed, I don't expect to get away from negative comments by doing this, but at least now I won't feel a responsibility to read them.

I'm aware this goes against a lot of what I've said in public. I have no good response to that. I'm also aware a lot of you were using me as a symbol of some perceived struggle. I'm not. I'm a person, and I'm right there struggling with you.

I love you. All of you. Thank you for turning Minecraft into what it has become, but there are too many of you, and I can't be responsible for something this big. In one sense, it belongs to Microsoft now. In a much bigger sense, it's belonged to all of you for a long time, and that will never change

It's not about the money. It's about my sanity.

 

This is the note Notch posted today regarding the sale of Mojang AB to Microsoft.

 

Microsoft has bought his company for $2.5 Billion!

 

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-09-15-microsoft-buys-mojang-and-minecraft

 

[Ocram's Razr 964]

That won't happen. Microsoft might want Minecraft to become exclusive to Windows and XBox but Mojang will never stand for that. They are already profitable enough and both Notch and _Jeb expressed that they don't need too much money and even if they stopped getting sales from any sources tomorrow, they still have enough money to keep going for 10 more years after that.

 

That means that if Microsoft buys Mojang AB, it will not become my Microsoft lock-in and if the stipulation for the takeover of Mojang by Microsoft is that all its games become lock-ins, Mojang will never let themselves be bought out.

 

 

--Ocram

 

EDIT: Here is a quote by Markus "Notch" Persson.

 

Mojang does not exist to make as much money as possible for the owners. As the majority shareholder, I'd know. Every time a big money making deal comes up that would make a lot of money, it's of course very tempting, but at the end of the day we choose to do what either makes the most sense for our products, or the things that seem like fun for us at Mojang.

[Xenocity 343]

That won't happen. Microsoft might want Minecraft to become exclusive to Windows and XBox but Mojang will never stand for that. They are already profitable enough and both Notch and _Jeb expressed that they don't need too much money and even if they stopped getting sales from any sources tomorrow, they still have enough money to keep going for 10 more years after that.

 

That means that if Microsoft buys Mojang AB, it will not become my Microsoft lock-in and if the stipulation for the takeover of Mojang by Microsoft is that all its games become lock-ins, Mojang will never let themselves be bought out.

 

 

--Ocram

 

EDIT: Here is a quote by Markus "Notch" Persson.

 

Mojang does not exist to make as much money as possible for the owners. As the majority shareholder, I'd know. Every time a big money making deal comes up that would make a lot of money, it's of course very tempting, but at the end of the day we choose to do what either makes the most sense for our products, or the things that seem like fun for us at Mojang.

 

Yeah many people have stated they aren't out to make money.

Then someone offers them enough.

 

Notch also said he had grown tired of being a game developer as well.

This year's Minecon has also been canned.

 

WSJ is rarely wrong when it comes to buyouts and mergers.

 

I wouldn't be surprised if Notch is sick of Minecraft and wants to move on.

[Duke87 1,070]

According to the article the deal has gone through.

 

Hey, I can't blame the guy. If I started a company and a big name offered me $2 billion for it, I'd happily pocket the money and walk away.

[The Avatar 1,089]

Would this affect the development of the game? Will Mojang still be releasing free updates? I'm going to be furious at Microsoft if they ruin one of my favorite games. 

[Xenocity 343]

Would this affect the development of the game? Will Mojang still be releasing free updates? I'm going to be furious at Microsoft if they ruin one of my favorite games. 

That would depend on the terms of agreement.

Notch is only staying for a time, which is no more than 6 months.

 

Though Microsoft would love to sell new content to make back their money.

updated with Bloomberg's information.

Persson aka Notch wanted out and offered Microsoft first dibbs for the company.

[Xenocity 343]

The deal is done, Microsoft has officially bought the company from Notch for $2.5 billion!

[Ocram's Razr 964]

I read that Notch will step down as soon as the deal is finalized. I sincerely hope that since he said he was not in it for the money, that he donates a comparable percent of the income from this deal that live-streamers donate to Minecraft charities.

--Ocram

[The Avatar 1,089]

From a post on Mojang's website: "Though it’s too early to confirm which of us will continue working on Minecraft or other projects, we predict that the vast majority (if not all) Mojangstas will continue to work at Mojang for the time being." Phew, that's a relief. I just hope their prediction comes true. 

[GMT 389]

just because ms bought mojang doesn't mean mojang's gone and done for... same for minecraft.

after all, ms isn't ea

no seriously tho, there's a bazillion of companies owned by bigger companies that still do their job the way or even better than before acquisition (just look at the network unilever, p&g,general mills, nestle and co created).

most of this stuff happens simply to cash in on both sides. in this case, ms want's a piece of the bigedy big big minecraft cake and the mojang guys cashed in real big money for their trademark rights.

I mean, it's not like mojang was in financial trouble at any point thanks to minecraft, so they probably put the bar up very high to close the deal, $2.5b is quite a number. since ms payed and certainly didn't had any competition to fear from mojang, it's a simple investment thing; they expect the revenue from minecraft and other mojang projects to cover the costs really fast.

for this, they better not change the winning team (at least if you say team=software cashcow). otherwise they can say byebye to $2.5b well dumped

[Xenocity 343]

just because ms bought mojang doesn't mean mojang's gone and done for... same for minecraft.

after all, ms isn't ea

no seriously tho, there's a bazillion of companies owned by bigger companies that still do their job the way or even better than before acquisition (just look at the network unilever, p&g,general mills, nestle and co created).

most of this stuff happens simply to cash in on both sides. in this case, ms want's a piece of the bigedy big big minecraft cake and the mojang guys cashed in real big money for their trademark rights.

I mean, it's not like mojang was in financial trouble at any point thanks to minecraft, so they probably put the bar up very high to close the deal, $2.5b is quite a number. since ms payed and certainly didn't had any competition to fear from mojang, it's a simple investment thing; they expect the revenue from minecraft and other mojang projects to cover the costs really fast.

for this, they better not change the winning team (at least if you say team=software cashcow). otherwise they can say byebye to $2.5b well dumped

Actually Notch gave Microsoft first dibbs on Mojang.

Notch wanted out.

 

Mojang will now develop exclusively for Microsoft products, except where existing contracts come into force.

It is highly likely Microsoft will end official support and updates for all the non Microsoft versions of Minecraft.

Microsoft has never let an acquired company support their competitors products to date, even forcing them to end support once the acquistion was completed.

 

Any new Mojang game will be exclusive to Xbox One and Windows (if Microsoft wants it on Windows).

 

 

Mojang is dead as a 3rd party developer!