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Microsoft announces purchase of Minecraft creator Mojang

devilsadvocat said:
Still support Playstation/ios/android?

Bravo Microsoft
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They were never going to stop supporting the iOS/Android versions, considering MS release games on there anyway but it will be interesting to see what happens to the Playstation versions after a period of time/support happens (e.g. when Sony's contract with Mojang expires)
 
I dont think MS is buying this just as a game, but also as a service. The minecraft realms thing seems to fit great into the Azure line up. I suspect its gonna be a thing like Office, works better on Windows/xbox, but is also on other platforms and the bulk of the profit comes from selling services/subscriptions anyway.
 
I still have half a suspicion that there was a memo from 2003 that got lost somewhere in the system and only turned up now. Someone high-up saw it, it said "Acquire Steve Jobs", and said higher-up interpreted that as a directive to employ everyone at Mojang.
 
BruceLeeRoy said:
Yup. Tying it to just their ecosystem would have been insane when were talking about the kind money the sequel and this franchise will make.
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I'm sure Minecraft 2 will not release on Playstation products, along with an exclusivity windows on bone and WP versions.

I seriously doubt we'll be seeing the physical PS4 and Vita releases later this year as well.
 
I think if Minecraft 2 does happen, asumming Microsoft doesn't make it exclusive,then it will be up to whatever company to decide whether or not they want to publish it on their particular platform. If they do, they will obvisouly have to cut Microsoft a check.
 
"Minecraft 2" is silly. If anything, they're going to treat Minecraft even more like a platform to sell merchandise and cosmetic DLC, maybe with some "LEGO X" style spinoffs/expansions. But I'd be very surprised to see a "minecraft 2" even after this (since MS seems to understand Minecraft is a platform not a single game).

Tizoc said:
It was rated by ESRB, so it's still coming.
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The Mojang post explicitly mentions the Vita, it's gonna be fine, guys.

HeartlessNobody213 said:
I think if Minecraft 2 does happen, asumming Microsoft doesn't make it exclusive,then it will be up to whatever company to decide whether or not they want to publish it on their particular platform. If they do, they will obvisouly have to cut Microsoft a check.
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Microsoft isn't going to make companies pay for their version of minecraft if that's what you're saying. They'll still get the publisher's cut of the earnings for the title, yes.

Nightengale said:
At this stage, all I want to know is what the founders plan to do with all that money.
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Nothing? Retire? Aside from game jams Notch really hasn't done much of anything since minecraft.
 
To future my early point, this goes well beyond core gaming. A properly built minecraft 2 has far reaching implications for everything from early learning tools, to movie production, to simulations, to architecture, Virtual tourism.

Imagine a game engine, which anyone understands and can build anything they want.

Minecraft is going to become a bigger money spinner for Microsoft than anything the Xbox project has achieved.

Stop looking at it through lens of a exclusive buy for the Xbox one. Microsofts ambitions for this are far far far bigger than that.
 
I wonder what Mojang can do for their future styled games as I want to see a more realistic approach to the Minecraft franchise.
 
IMO, after thinking it over, Minecraft does have a lot of potential as far as spinoffs. Microsoft probably sees that. I saw where others were talking about Minecraft being MS' Mario but I didn't really think about it til now:

Mario 3D World -> PlatformCraft (the characters and art style lends itself to a unique 1/2p platformer with level builder)
New Super Mario Bros -> 4p Party PlatformCraft (Same as above but 2D)
Mario Kart -> KartCraft (Custom race tracks)
Mario Party -> PartyCraft (IDK... maybe a LittleBigPlanet-esque minigame builder? That'd be cool)
Mario Sports Mix -> SportsCraft (Create your own fields/arenas)
Paper Mario -> MineCraft RPG

And I'm sure there's plenty more. Minecraft is a strong IP that won't be run into the ground so as long as the original game is always available for every platform. MS could even stand to make it a free pack-in and advertise it with every Xbox One. In the long run, I really could see it making this money back
 
As long as they continue to support all platforms that's fine I guess...

I now retroactively own a Microsoft game on PS4
It is the end of times.
 
Echoenigma said:
And MS also wants to shift more consumers to mobile, i assume without tarnishing the minecraft brand in the process.

This deal is a massive, massive risk. If they can't find a way to pokemon the series and make it something kids will care about 10 years from now this deal will have been a waste.
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This. Honestly. And I find the bullshit excuse that Notch 'couldn't handle' a franchise of this size as the reason he passed it onto the highest bidder. It's hard to believe that Notch would sell a franchise brimming with growth potential in the form of entertainment and merchandising, so my guess is that he knows the series has reached it's zenith and there's not much else to be done with it. If so, he's pulled an absolute blinder.

I guess time will tell but I think this acquisition would have made more sense 2 years ago.
 
Kosma said:
This is so stupid from MS.

Minecraft has already peaked.
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Nonsense. Minecraft is a cultural milestone in gaming and it still surprises me how many people fail to realize the impact it's had, especially with younger gamers. It will have the same kind of lasting success that things like Tetris and Mario have had.
 
Holographix said:
haha
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alr1ght said:
2Uk8oDW.png
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Another one from their official rep.

xIhCUsp.png
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There's been rumblings about this for quite some time now behind the scenes. As usual, the decision was made by the big 3. However, the nature of Mojang being so small and tight-knit makes this situation a little bit tricky for those who have been contributing since the start but don't have a stake in the company.
 
Pie and Beans said:
This whole thing is nonsense, but this is the cherry. Notch couldn't... what? Delegate anything? The "pressure" of being really fucking rich and could do anything he wanted is now alleviated by being even more fucking rich, but now also a gigantic hypocrite that will find it hard for his words and intentions to ever gain traction like they did?
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This was my feeling a few days ago, but now all I'm thinking is... he must know this won't save him. I understand him wanting out, but he has in fact been out for years now, yet he still receives all this attention and pressure. No amount of money can change the fact people still have this idea of him as the Grand High King of Minecraft. If anything it may be worse now as everyone's Microsoft hate falls in his lap. "NOTCH WHY U DO THIS???!?" "Notch pls make them take out microtransactions" "u sux"
 
ThoughtsOfSpeaking said:
To future my early point, this goes well beyond core gaming. A properly built minecraft 2 has far reaching implications for everything from early learning tools, to movie production, to simulations, to architecture, Virtual tourism.

Imagine a game engine, which anyone understands and can build anything they want.

Minecraft is going to become a bigger money spinner for Microsoft than anything the Xbox project has achieved.
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Bingo. XBox/console is just a small cog in the Minecraft machine they have planned.

limlark said:
This was my feeling a few days ago, but now all I'm thinking is... he must know this won't save him. I understand him wanting out, but he has in fact been out for years now, yet he still receives all this attention and pressure. No amount of money can change the fact people still have this idea of him as the Grand High King of Minecraft. If anything it may be worse now as everyone's Microsoft hate falls in his lap. "NOTCH WHY U DO THIS???!?" "Notch pls make them take out microtransactions" "u sux"
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He probably will have at least 1.5 billion dollars in his warchest after this deal is completely finalized/done/etc. He can lock down his Twitter, kill his blog, and just go fly off to his own small island
 
Havent played Minecraft at all and never understood the hype it got. But for all that money they would be dumb to not keep it going on future competative consoles and mobile devices. Hopefully they dont end up making this a Kinect studio after all this.
 
Maybe it signifies Microsoft dropping the Xbox brand in order to go multiplatform?
That's where the real money is at. ;)
 
The blog post is kinda worrying actually. Too much "we don't know Microsoft's plans but it wouldn't make sense to ___________". You would think they would have these kinds of details before cashing out on a game they've been spending years working on.
 
Between this and the NFL deal which is just shy of 3 Billion, I can't help but think that they could have put that money to better use. The amount of AAA exclusives,, restructured PR department etc..
 
What a terrible buy by MS, once again... The heads like Notch are leaving anyway and Minecraft hype died long ago. They're basically getting zero for their 2.5 billion.
 
ShadowSoldier89 said:
I'm sure they have run the numbers enough, but I would love to hear how they think they can make 2.5billion back from this deal. At least they understand that minecraft needs that wide appeal and it wont actually sell xbox ones.

I dont play minecraft, but my curiosity will have me watching how this unfolds the rest of the way.

I still cant imagine this being the right choice for microsoft considering they desperately need to invest in new 1st party IPs
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Yeah, even merchandising the brand like hell, I can't see them ever recouping their money on this.
 
Mandoric said:
This being a MGS joint in particular, rather than Microsoft-wide, and the loss of notch and the project lead are pretty worrying for it being anything but Rare on a grander scale.
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Couldn't have said it better myself. This is going to be RARE 2.0 but it going to cost M.S. 2.5 Billion dollars this time. I suspect that more developers are going to jump ship.
 
Called it and was shitted on by several people for saying it would continue on all platforms including playstation. Anyway, will be interesting to watch them attempt to expand and grow minecraft and if they attempt to attach things to it such as a microsoft account
 
The founders: Notch, Carl, and Jakob are leaving.
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These 3 will make another game, that will sell a lot, then sell their new company for 2.5$ billion, rinse and repeat.
I am joking but they might create something very successful in the future.
 
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