Microsoft Corporation has announced that it has reached an agreement to acquire Mojang, the Stockholm-based game developer, together with the company’s iconic “Minecraft” franchise for $2.5 billion.
‘Minecraft’, which is available across multiple platforms, is one of the most popular video games in history, with more than 100 million downloads, on PC alone, by players since its launch in 2009.
“Gaming is a top activity spanning devices, from PCs and consoles to tablets and mobile, with billions of hours spent each year,” said Satya Nadella, CEO, Microsoft. “Minecraft is more than a great game franchise – it is an open world platform, driven by a vibrant community we care deeply about, and rich with new opportunities for that community and for Microsoft.”
Carl Manneh, CEO, Mojang says “the ‘Minecraft’ players have taken the game and turned it into something that surpassed all of our expectations. The acquisition by Microsoft brings a new chapter to the incredible story of ‘Minecraft. As the founders move on to start new projects, we believe the high level of creativity from the community will continue the game’s success far into the future.”
Microsoft plans to continue to make “Minecraft” available across all the platforms including PC, iOS, Android, Xbox and PlayStation on which it is currently available.
‘Minecraft’ is one of the most popular franchises of all time,” said Phil Spencer, head of Xbox. “We are going to maintain ‘Minecraft’ and its community in all the ways people love today, with a commitment to nurture and grow it long into the future.”
The acquisition is expected to close in late 2014 subject to customary closing conditions and any regulatory review, the companies announced.
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