Mojang Selling minecraft for $2.5 billion

[Space Butterfly]

After a week of rumours, Minecraft maker Mojang has today confirmed they're being bought by Microsoft. The studio has also announced that founders Marcus "Notch" Person, Carl Manneh and Jakob Porser are to leave.

What is everyones thoughts and opinions

 

[Hazy992]

How is Mojang worth 2.5 billion? Minecraft has sold roughly 5 million copies(last time I checked), and the game seemed to fall out of favour(from what I could tell from various fourms of course, I've never actually played the game, so my opinion may not be the best) after it went into full release and after the adventure update.

You haven't checked in quite a while have you?

From this BBC News article [http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-29204518]:

The title, which has sold over 54 million copies, allows players to build structures with retro Lego-style blocks, as well as explore a large map and battle others.

Minecraft continues to top sales charts week in, week out. It makes a shit ton of money and shows no sign of slowing down. That's what's got Microsoft so interested.

 

[ScrabbitRabbit]

How is Mojang worth 2.5 billion? Minecraft has sold roughly 5 million copies(last time I checked)

It's sold substantially more than that. Like, about 50 million more than that. http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/135752-Minecraft-For-Consoles-Outsells-Minecraft-For-PC

Still, 2.5 billion is a BIG number. I'm not sure if it's going to be worth quite that much, but if Microsoft are known for anything it's using their mind-boggling wealth to break the competition, regardless of the cost.

 

[Space Butterfly]

Minecraft has sold roughly 5 million copies(last time I checked)

That must have been a long time ago it has now sold over 54 million over half of which are on consoles. (Though I don't know who would play it on console)

 

[Robert B. Marks]

Basically, the same thoughts as Th3Ch33s3Cak3 above. The amount actually set off my BS detector the first time I heard it, but I guess it's true (even though there's no way that company is worth that much).

Still, I did find those who complained that Persson was selling out a bit on the humorous side. Seriously, as a businessman myself, we're in it to make money. If a business owner can cut a deal that will set up their entire family for the next 10-20 generations, they're going to.

 

[Mr.Mattress]

What I find interesting is that Minecraft is still coming to the PS3/PS4/PSVita (The Real Shocker is the PSVita Version), at least according to Notch. I think that if Microsoft does close down their console development market, then they can still make a huge killing with one of the biggest Indie Games of All time (Which probably shouldn't count as Indie anymore); Minecraft.

Still, I'm expecting Minecraft 2 to be Xbox/PC exclusive, and will probably be on shelves by 2016...

 

[Erttheking]

Well fuck. I can't wait for Microsoft to ruin it. Paid updates, microtransactions. Yeah, gonna be real fucking fun.

 

[Mezahmay]

Honestly, I don't think Microsoft believes Mojang is worth $2.5 billion. I think they think the Minecraft license has the potential to be worth far more than $2.5 billion of they exploit it brand manage and develop it properly. I thought the theory presented in the latest episode of The Patch podcast [http://roosterteeth.com/gamepodcast/episode.php?id=69] was interesting: microtransactions for each update (hilariously enough right after Mojang canned server monetization in their updated EULA [https://mojang.com/2014/06/lets-talk-server-monetisation/]). So yeah, if Minecraft wasn't in decline before, it certainly is now. I'm annoyed by this theory because it's entirely plausible, contradicts Mojang's design philosophy, and could stifle the potential for Minecraft's future as an educational tool. Hell they could even squash the modding community if Microsoft really felt like it infringed on the content they make in the future.

 

[FieryTrainwreck]

Still, I did find those who complained that Persson was selling out a bit on the humorous side. Seriously, as a businessman myself, we're in it to make money. If a business owner can cut a deal that will set up their entire family for the next 10-20 generations, they're going to.

Even if he's not a businessman first and foremost, what artist would turn down total creative autonomy for the rest of his life?

 

[leberkaese]

My guess: Microsoft doesn't care about Minecraft on PC and consoles. All they want is a game to push Windows Phone.

54 Million people already bought Minecraft. If they develop Minecraft for Windows Phone and stop people from playing that game on Android and iOS you have a big potential base of people interested in WP.

 

[BakedSardine]

Forget about the 54M copies of the game that have sold, it's a marketing juggernaut. For everyone they get to pop for $20 on the game, they probably sell 4-5X that in retail merchandise to the same kids. We have Mincraft on PS3 and PS4 and with misc. $1.99 packs, might have $40 into the actual game. However, there is probably $1250 of Minecraft toys(foam swords, pick axes, plastic blocks, figures, t-shirts, and the like) laying around.

The will/are literally going after a market like Lego in addition to everything else.

 

[BloatedGuppy]

Forget about the 54M copies of the game that have sold, it's a marketing juggernaut. For everyone they get to pop for $20 on the game, they probably sell 4-5X that in retail merchandise to the same kids. We have Mincraft on PS3 and PS4 and with misc. $1.99 packs, might have $40 into the actual game. However, there is probably $1250 of Minecraft toys(foam swords, pick axes, plastic blocks, figures, t-shirts, and the like) laying around.

The will/are literally going after a market like Lego in addition to everything else.

Yep.

Quite honestly, the surface has barely been scratched in terms of the potential of Minecraft as a brand. The original game still feels more like a proof-of-concept tech demo than a polished product.

If it's not THE most important property in gaming right now, it's one of a select few.

 

[Muspelheim]

Welp. Better get the most out of my modpacks while I've got them... While I hope Microsoft will allow them to live, that'd be uncharacteristic of them to say the least. Hopefully, something will come along to fill its place, like a stand alone Feed the Beast or somesuch.

Can't fault Persson for it, though. Those are loadsamoney, and he has been more or less done with Minecraft for ages. Although, it'll be reasonable to espect a much greater production value on whatever he does next, unless he choose to rest on his laurels from now.

 

[Thebazilly]

Not sure how I feel about this. I like Minecraft and I still boot it up from time to time to play, but I'm suspicious of Microsoft's intentions with the game. Good for Notch for getting so much money, though.

I will agree that the merchandising angle is a huge one. Minecraft t-shirts, props, toys, etc. have been multiplying exponentially in the last few years.

 

[gigastar]

My guess: Microsoft doesn't care about Minecraft on PC and consoles. All they want is a game to push Windows Phone.

54 Million people already bought Minecraft. If they develop Minecraft for Windows Phone and stop people from playing that game on Android and iOS you have a big potential base of people interested in WP.

This doesnt make sense to me. Anyone who might buy a Windows Phone (much less any other smartphone) probably already has another device that can play Minecraft. And the smartphone versions will likely be the worst versions too.

 

[nima55]

Welp there goes my wish for a Wii U version -_-

 

[Bara_no_Hime]

Forget about the 54M copies of the game that have sold, it's a marketing juggernaut. For everyone they get to pop for $20 on the game, they probably sell 4-5X that in retail merchandise to the same kids. We have Mincraft on PS3 and PS4 and with misc. $1.99 packs, might have $40 into the actual game. However, there is probably $1250 of Minecraft toys(foam swords, pick axes, plastic blocks, figures, t-shirts, and the like) laying around.

The will/are literally going after a market like Lego in addition to everything else.

This.

I didn't even blink at the 2.5 Billion. I can't walk through a Walmart or the mall without seeing Creepers and blocky swords.

 

[leberkaese]

My guess: Microsoft doesn't care about Minecraft on PC and consoles. All they want is a game to push Windows Phone.

54 Million people already bought Minecraft. If they develop Minecraft for Windows Phone and stop people from playing that game on Android and iOS you have a big potential base of people interested in WP.

This doesnt make sense to me. Anyone who might buy a Windows Phone (much less any other smartphone) probably already has another device that can play Minecraft. And the smartphone versions will likely be the worst versions too.

Doesn't make much sense now, but if they somehow kill Minecraft on other mobile OS, they'll maybe can boost sales of their own mobile phones.

I personally don't understand why you would play Minecraft on a mobile device, I'm more than happy with playing it on PC. But seems like Minecraft is a big thing on smartphones and tablets.

That MS wants to use this makes more sense to me than gainings from selling merchandise. After all, they're a company that makes ~24 billions profit every year.

 

[Shamanic Rhythm]

Still, I did find those who complained that Persson was selling out a bit on the humorous side. Seriously, as a businessman myself, we're in it to make money. If a business owner can cut a deal that will set up their entire family for the next 10-20 generations, they're going to.

Notch selling out isn't the problem in itself, it's that he's become a massive hypocrite by doing so, considering:
-He claimed that Windows 8 and the Metro interface were destroying PC gaming.
-He pulled support for Occulus Rift after they sold out to Facebook for a similar amount of money, saying he didn't trust Facebook to ruin the experience.

 

[BakedSardine]

Still, I did find those who complained that Persson was selling out a bit on the humorous side. Seriously, as a businessman myself, we're in it to make money. If a business owner can cut a deal that will set up their entire family for the next 10-20 generations, they're going to.

Notch selling out isn't the problem in itself, it's that he's become a massive hypocrite by doing so, considering:
-He claimed that Windows 8 and the Metro interface were destroying PC gaming.
-He pulled support for Occulus Rift after they sold out to Facebook for a similar amount of money, saying he didn't trust Facebook to ruin the experience.

There's a lot of people who wouldn't mind being a little hypocritical for a cool $2.5B - doubt he'll sweat it.