p>Microsoft pays $2.5bn for Minecraft maker Mojang By Joe Miller Technology reporter, BBC News
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p>Microsoft has acquired Mojang, the Swedish firm that developed the popular video game Minecraft, for $2.5bn (PS1.5bn).
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p>The game, which has sold over 54 million copies, allows players to construct structures using Lego-like blocks and explore a large map and fight other players.
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p>The deal was announced by Xbox chief Phil Spencer.
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p>Mojang its founders have assured that their fans that everything was going to be perfectly.
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p>Some analysts have speculated that the deal is designed to attract more users to Microsoft's Windows Phone devices.
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p>This acquisition comes just one year after Microsoft purchased the Finnish mobile phone company Nokia's handsets and devices division.
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p>Minecraft is among the top-selling apps on both the Apple iOS store and and Android's Google Play, and has recently been made available for the Xbox One and PlayStation? 4 and has boosted sales even more.
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p>In the month of March, it was the third most popular console game, according to market research firm NPD Group, despite being available for sale for a few days.
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p>The game's developer, Mojang, which was founded in 2009, brought in more than $100 million in revenue last year, and employs around 40 employees.
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p>Microsoft has announced that the Mojang team will join its game studio, which is responsible for titles like Halo, Forza and Fable. https://leaves.farm/ </p>
p>The tech giant's chief executive, Satya Nadella, said: "Minecraft is more than a great game franchise. It's an open world platform, driven by a vibrant community that we are deeply involved in, and rich with new opportunities for this community and for Microsoft."
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p>Opposition to the sale
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p>Mojang's founder, Markus "Notch" Persson has previously criticized Microsoft, and commented to Reuters that the market for Windows phones was "tiny" and not worth developing apps for.
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p>Minecraft has a large and enthusiastic fan base Many of them have expressed their anger at what they see as an attempt to take over a communally-spirited independent company.
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p>"Makes me sick and sad," wrote one user on a popular Minecraft forum. "It will ruin the gaming community," EvilBatsu? added.
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p>Others expressed concern about the possibility of their talents being shown by fans.
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p>"It will not only cost more to play the game, but it could also affect people's jobs." Many people play Minecraft and upload it to YouTube as a way to earn money but when Microsoft is the new owner, there will be copyright issues."
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p>However , some players made the point that Microsoft could dedicate more resources to expanding and upgrading the game.
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p>In an announcement, Microsoft said it would keep Minecraft across all its existing platforms, with a "commitment to nurture and expand it long into the future".
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p>It said that the acquisition was expected by the end 2014
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p>In an announcement confirming the deal on its website, Mojang reassured gamers, saying: "Please remember that the future of Minecraft and you - the community - are extremely important to everyone involved. If you take anything from this post then let it be this."
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p>In regards to Microsoft, Mojang said: "There are only few potential buyers with the resources to expand Minecraft on a scale that it is deserved."
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p>The company also stated that "Notch" had decided that he "doesn't want the responsibility of running an organization of such global significance".
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p>Developer Notch on selling Minecraft:
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p>"I've become an image. I do not want to be a symbol, with a responsibility for something massive that I am unable to comprehend, that I don't want to work on, that is always coming back to me. I'm not an entrepreneur. I'm not a CEO."
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p>You can read the entire statement here
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p>Why Minecraft?
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p>James McQuivey? of analytics firm Forrester said that "Minecraft is one of the most important gaming properties in the world".
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p>"Not only is it profitable however, it continues to increase in revenue years after its launch, largely because of the huge player base that invests in creating their own Minecraft worlds.
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p>"That helps explain the reason Microsoft would want Minecraft and would want to ensure it is always available on Microsoft's gaming platforms.
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p>Professor Mark Skilton from Warwick Business School said that the acquisition was about building a strong customer base for Microsoft.
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p>"The online gaming industry is quickly moving from niche collective enthusiast to mass-market and Minecraft is a sensible choice since big business is following the numbers of traffic in the digital world."
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p>Amazon purchased Twitch last month for $970m (PS597m).
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p>"It's all about my mental health"
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p>Microsoft is'set to purchase Minecraft'
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p>Microsoft completes Nokia phone deal
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p>Microsoft
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p>NPD Group
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