Microsoft Set to Buy Minecraft's Developer Mojang, Say Reports

<h1> Microsoft Set to Buy Minecraft's Developer Mojang, Say Reports</h1> <html><body> Microsoft set to buy Minecraft's developer Mojang According to reports by Leo Kelion Technology desk editor The video games studio behind Minecraft is in talks to be bought by Microsoft, according to reports. According to reports, Mojang may sell for more than $2 billion (PS1.2bn). In June, the Swedish studio announced that it had sold about 54 million copies of its hit world-building game. Since then, the game has been released for the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 which has further increased sales. Mojang's founder, Markus "Notch" Persson has previously publicly criticised Microsoft. He claimed that Microsoft was trying to "destroy the Windows 8 operating platform as an open platform" by certifying third-party titles prior to its release. He was also a staunch advocate of independent studios. In 2012, he said: "The more studios can escape the publisher system, the more games will be created in love rather than for profit." Bloomberg news agency claims it was Mr. Persson who was the one to "reach out" to Microsoft just a few months ago. The report said that a source suggested that in the event that the deal was approved Persson would be a part of the deal. <a href="https://raunge.com/">What About</a> Persson could assist in the transition, but was likely to leave the company afterward. The New York Times also stated that a source briefed on the talks had revealed that Mr Persson was scheduled to depart within six months, but added that Mojang was keen to hang on to its younger developers. Microsoft spokesperson said that they do not comment on speculation or speculations. Mojang declined to comment. Mr. Persson did not respond to the BBC's questions. Virtual world Minecraft was first released in 2011 and has since grown to become the third-most popular game ever and has become an international phenomenon. London's Victoria and Albert Museum hosted an evening of exploration of the city's design culture. Lego has made spinoff toys, Ordnance Survey created a version for mainland Great Britain in the game, and Denmark has constructed an actual model. The story is set in a virtual world comprised of cubes made of various substances, including dirt and rocks. Most of these are able to be used as building blocks, or transformed into usable raw materials. The blocks can be used to construct shelters or even weapons to defend themselves against the zombies and other creatures that are in the game. They can also engage in massive construction projects to flex their creative skills. One extreme example was the creation of a virtual hard drive that could be used for work. Mojang has also worked on other games, but they've either fallen short of Minecraft's success - like the role-playing game (RPG) Scrolls - or been shelved before completion - such as 0x10c, a space-themed game that Mr Persson was working on until last year. 'Worried gamers' The Wall Street Journal first reported on negotiations between Mojang, Microsoft and that they may close this week. It was noted that this would be the first multibillion-dollar acquisition by Microsoft's chief executive, Satya Nadella, since when he was appointed to the company in 2003. Harry Bradshaw, who interviewed Mr Persson via Twitch and stated that a lot of gamers would be concerned by the news. "There are instances in the past of big corporations taking another's game and making it into a massive money-flip, just to see what they could achieve," he said. "Gamers are naturally worried about this. "It is mystifying to me what the reason is Mojang is able to make a profit when it is the most viewed PC game ever, and it sells thousands of copies every day." One market analyst said that it was unlikely that Microsoft would pull existing Minecraft games from the market for the PlayStation, Mac, Android, Linux and other rival platforms. However, he added that Microsoft's different systems could be preferred when it comes to future products. "Minecraft is among the top IPs [intellectual properties] in the gaming industry that is acquirable," said Piers Harding-Rolls, lead games analyst at the consultancy IHS. "The brand is positioned to continue its expansion over the next ten years," "So as an investment, even at a high cost, it still represents something of value to larger companies that are looking to acquire exclusivity around a highly-engaged franchise." Minecraft maker shelves 0x10c game 19 August 2013 Twitch IHS New York Times Bloomberg WSJ </body></html> </h1>