-
Hey, guest user. Hope you're enjoying NeoGAF! Have you considered registering for an account? Come join us and add your take to the daily discourse.
Microsoft announces purchase of Minecraft creator Mojang
- Thread starter Quentyn
- Start date
HF2014
Member
Bomber Bob
Banned
Dude behind Fake Kaz is a fucking comedy genious
FranXico
Member
It's a joke account.
SEGAvangelist
Gold Member
Why would they get rid of him? He can possibly get an even bigger paycheck now.
I'm curious to see how the future of the series turns out with what will basically be a new team.
Prophet Steve
Member
Notch created the foundation of the game and hasn't really done anything with Minecraft for a long time, I doubt the founders are worth a whole lot.
Pandora012
Member
Amazing
Damn, this guy is hilarious.
HF2014
Member
Not much of an upgrade there. I only hope they do put it on Nintendo systems. Since everyone is chanting that minecraft is on everything when it isnt.
The Shogun
Banned
Of course its still a nice get for Xbox. They may even offer incentives to get that version such as exclusive betas, quicker updates, etc.
If however they make future Minecraft games / add ons Xbox only its a colossal mistake. They simply will have hugely narrowed profit opportunities. If this had been a smaller purchase price making it exclusive would make sense but for 2.5 billion you need every available consumer to recoup that.
And how many studios has Sony actually ever created honestly. Most are bought infact. Microsoft actually have built more internal studios, maybe I'm wrong.
OsirisBlack
Banned
Ouch lmao.
Well MS buying minecraft for 25 million is a great get for the company I mean that is rea...... wait what? 2.5 Billion? Hmm...
Chuckpebble
Member
Eagerly anticipating the youtuber (over)reaction to this.
Game Content Usage Rules
Aside from that issue, I wonder if any of them have the chutzpah to demand a cut of that deal.
Game Content Usage Rules
Aside from that issue, I wonder if any of them have the chutzpah to demand a cut of that deal.
maniac-kun
Member
They probably will get them some very talented people for the dev team. This could actualy benefit Minecraft greatly because there is so much unused potential in that game.
Freeman
Banned
If this guy was the real Kaz, the world would be a better place
So who should announce the deal. All game related things go under Microsoft Studios. So Mojang will report to Spencer even if others in the company wanted it to happen. Its much bigger than Xbox, but Spencer still knows the what and who of gaming, it makes sense to allow someone that gamers are familiar with announce it than some higher up random, because it is a game after all in the end. I doubt Nadella would announce it honestly.
1st Course
Member
Minecraft PC sales
Minecraft just passed one million sales - Jan 12th, 2011
Minecraft hits the motherlode, reaches two million purchases - Apr 24th 2011
Minecraft passes 3 million sales - 05 August 2011
Indie game sensation Minecraft surpasses 4 million copies sold - November 6, 2011
'Minecraft' hits five million paid downloads - Mar 25 2012
Minecraft sells 6 million - 25 May 2012
Minecraft' for PC sells over 7 million copies - Aug 13, 2012
Minecraft has sold 8 million copies on PC! - November 12, 2012
Minecraft PC sales reach 9M units - JANUARY 22, 2013
Minecraft for PC sells over 10 million - Apr 05, 2013
MINECRAFT PC SALES SURPASS 11 MILLION - 24 JUN 2013
MINECRAFT PC SALES AT 12 MILLION; FRANCHISE AT 33 MILLION - 3 SEP 2013
Minecraft sells more than 13 million copies on PC - Dec 13 2013
Minecraft PC sells 14 million copies - February 1, 2014
MINECRAFT SALES SURPASS 15 MILLION COPIES ON PC - 29 APR 2014
MINECRAFT TOPS 16 MILLION COPIES SOLD ON PC - 8 JUL 2014
Was curious how Minecraft PC is selling compared to past years. Seems like it's still going strong.
Minecraft just passed one million sales - Jan 12th, 2011
Minecraft hits the motherlode, reaches two million purchases - Apr 24th 2011
Minecraft passes 3 million sales - 05 August 2011
Indie game sensation Minecraft surpasses 4 million copies sold - November 6, 2011
'Minecraft' hits five million paid downloads - Mar 25 2012
Minecraft sells 6 million - 25 May 2012
Minecraft' for PC sells over 7 million copies - Aug 13, 2012
Minecraft has sold 8 million copies on PC! - November 12, 2012
Minecraft PC sales reach 9M units - JANUARY 22, 2013
Minecraft for PC sells over 10 million - Apr 05, 2013
MINECRAFT PC SALES SURPASS 11 MILLION - 24 JUN 2013
MINECRAFT PC SALES AT 12 MILLION; FRANCHISE AT 33 MILLION - 3 SEP 2013
Minecraft sells more than 13 million copies on PC - Dec 13 2013
Minecraft PC sells 14 million copies - February 1, 2014
MINECRAFT SALES SURPASS 15 MILLION COPIES ON PC - 29 APR 2014
MINECRAFT TOPS 16 MILLION COPIES SOLD ON PC - 8 JUL 2014
Code:
+------------+------+
| sales | days |
+------------+------+
| 1m to 2m | 102 |
| 2m to 3m | 162 |
| 3m to 4m | 93 |
| 4m to 5m | 140 |
| 5m to 6m | 61 |
| 6m to 7m | 80 |
| 7m to 8m | 91 |
| 8m to 9m | 71 |
| 9m to 10m | 73 |
| 10m to 11m | 80 |
| 11m to 12m | 71 |
| 12m to 13m | 101 |
| 13m to 14m | 50 |
| 14m to 15m | 87 |
| 15m to 16m | 70 |
+------------+------+Was curious how Minecraft PC is selling compared to past years. Seems like it's still going strong.
Microsoft expects to earn the money back in a YEAR.
What.
Like, really, what?
From just over a hundred million a year, to over $2.5 Billion in a year? Sure that makes sense.
Edit: Source:
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/news/press/2014/sept14/09-15news.aspx
Amazing
I love that Twitter and everything about it.
I don't know if Microsoft will screw this up as much as they did with Rare, though; their IPs were powerfully 90s, so even if the retools were abysmal, it's not like they were going to live much longer without a talented team (Remember, Nintendo gave Rare their IPs, so Microsoft honestly just wanted the devs, who mostly jumped ship due to just wanting the money from the buy-out or not liking working with Microsoft. Blame Howard Lincoln's friendship with the Stamper Bros. and Hiroshi Yamauchi's bitterness for Banjo-Kazooie being dead instead of being Retro's next big revival; those franchises were literally given away, and none of those 4 have anything to do with Microsoft or Nintendo anymore).
Meanwhile, Minecraft's everywhere, to a nigh-obnoxious degree. Minecraft T-Shirts, backpacks, figures, foam swords/pick-axes, LEGOs, etc. are everywhere. Banjo-Kazooie had a good fanbase, but Minecraft's officially more than a game: it's a cultural phenomenon. $2.5 Billion? That's way too much, but they're totally gonna make every cent of that purchase back.
Then again, it still is Microsoft we're talking about here...
EDIT:
Never mind, they're totally being Microsoft about it.
James Scott
Banned
Not sure how MS expects Mojang to make 2.5 billion in less than a year.
IF Microsoft plays this right, Minecraft could be the first cross play, device agnostic game.
Kid 1: "Hey guys, after school, meet me at the dragon castle."
Kid 2: "Can't. I have soccer. But we can hang out for a while while I'm riding over there."
So, less like Halo and more like...email.
Kid 1: "Hey guys, after school, meet me at the dragon castle."
Kid 2: "Can't. I have soccer. But we can hang out for a while while I'm riding over there."
So, less like Halo and more like...email.
MightyHedgehog
Member
Yeah, but people said it already sold to everyone who wanted it.
MightyHedgehog
Member
Eh, isn't MC already considered a pillar of PC gaming when it sells just fine on its own site? Why does Valve deserve a cut to make that official?
iN1njaCPFC
Member
This is now at a fork for minecraft.
Microsoft need to do the following to keep it afloat.
- Recompile the game on PC to not use Java, and actually optimise it.
- Ensure mod support will remain.
- My personal favourite - Try to incorporate Unreal into it.
- Constant Updates!!! This is what makes it always popular.
Microsoft need to do the following to keep it afloat.
- Recompile the game on PC to not use Java, and actually optimise it.
- Ensure mod support will remain.
- My personal favourite - Try to incorporate Unreal into it.
- Constant Updates!!! This is what makes it always popular.
Now this is surprising and impressive to me.
Zomba13
Member
I don't care who owns Minecraft as long as it still exists on all the other platforms and continues to receive support on those platforms. It would be very easy for MS to just stop support for it on other devices or to delay updates but I really do hope they continue to work on them together, without giving one version priority. It'd also be nice if there could be an updated PC version that doesn't run on Java but I honestly don't expect that.
With MS's resources they can transform Minecraft into a platform, something you can access anywhere at any time on any device. I really hope they go the open, friendly and cool route rather than the Rare route or immediately start work on a Minecraft 2 "exclusive on xbox!".
With MS's resources they can transform Minecraft into a platform, something you can access anywhere at any time on any device. I really hope they go the open, friendly and cool route rather than the Rare route or immediately start work on a Minecraft 2 "exclusive on xbox!".
Cornbread78
Member
gamechanger87
Member
The $2.5B is offset by a number of factors. They don't expect $2.5B in CASH, just EARNINGS. The transaction enables them to use the cash in a tax efficient manner which building their own tax shield. THEY ARE NOT EXPECTING TO MAKE $2.5B IN DIRECT EARNINGS THIS YEAR. The international cash is essentially useless for shareholders unless MS does something like this with it or repatriates it.
Beyond the tax benefits of not having to repatriate the cash, they will likely benefit from a huge step up in the tax basis of the business. The significant amount of intangibles generated by this transaction will be amortized over the next 15 years enabling MS to reduce its Taxable Income. This shield, combined with the benefit of not having to repatriate the cash significantly lowers the breakeven threshold. Adding in the revenue on top is icing on the cake.
For those wondering how things like this can happen, you need to understand that GAAP is an odd beast and there are a lot of ways you can structure a transaction to make it neutral. GAAP is not CASH. They are not going to be breakeven on this within the year. However, on a GAAP basis they are likely in a good spot and this is a much better use of their International cash than anything they looked at.
I don't think the average consumer of Minecraft even know who those people are/care. Microsft purchased Mojang to acquire the IP. I suspect Mojang themselves will either be shut dow and staff layed off once Microsoft start putting hundreds of staff on Minecraft 2.
I'm just worried about jeb etc back at mojang. For all the nice comments from Phil Spencer, MS can be pretty cold blooded when they want to. If they wanted to being development in-house they'd just do it in the blink of an eye.
While I'm happy Notch etc are cashing out, I don't want it to be at the expense of those guys
While I'm happy Notch etc are cashing out, I don't want it to be at the expense of those guys
Bottom line is the purchase still has Xbox implications. Saying it has nothing to do with Xbox is simply wrong. I agree that it's much bigger than Xbox but that doesn't mean it has nothing to do with Xbox.
Pyccko
Member
So... they're still making the Vita version? Color me impressed.
Salty Hippo
Member
Source? I never heard about this and find it very hard to believe that Nintendo would give away free IPs and that Microsoft paid 400 million just for a studio and its staff.
gamechanger87
Member
Nope. The international cash has limited value for MS' investors. Similar to what Apple is dealing with. You can't dividend it or put it to any use in the US. Both companies are hoping the US government runs an amnesty program so they can repatriate tax free, but the IRS won't do it because it will set a precedent and companies will continue to horde cash and wait for the amnesty.
DJSebolski
Member
Waste of money. They will never break even.
They would be devaluing their $2.5 billion purchase if they were to move it exclusively onto Xbox/PC/Windows Phone. This is a move for Microsoft, not just Xbox, they will keep it on all existing platforms while building on the game. Ultimately I see the PC version moving away from Java (which could be amazing if it was better optimized for RAM usage) and the mobile versions getting an even bigger push. The console/Vita versions will continue to be handled by 4J.
I'm impressed... MS have made a positive consumer decision!? This was a real test for MS and I'm glad to see they've made the right decision. MS could be in for some really good times under Nadella\Spencer if this is the *new* MS.
Of course if they did try to lock it down it wouldn't be pretty... the game is just too big for that now and doing so would've just damaged the epic brand that is Minecraft.
So I'm actually quite happy with this. Not only is Minecraft safe (it seems) but it also indicates what the new MS and Xbox could be all about.... and for the first time ever... I like it.
Third party Microsoft is back!
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/73/Age_of_Empires_-_The_Age_of_Kings_Coverart.png