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 has sold to more than 54 million copies. It lets players build structures using Lego-style blocks. They can also explore large maps and battle with other players.
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p>Phil Spencer, chief Xbox executive, announced the deal.
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p>Mojang the company's founders promised the public that everything will be perfect.
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p>Analysts believe that the deal intended to boost Microsoft's Windows Phone users.
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p>This acquisition comes just one year after Microsoft purchased the Finnish mobile phone company Nokia's handset and devices division.
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p>Minecraft is among the top-selling apps on both the Apple iOS store and Android's Google Play, and has recently been released for the Xbox One and PlayStation? 4 which has further increased sales.
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p>In the month of March, it was the third most played console game according to market research firm NPD Group, despite being on sale for a while.
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p>Mojang the game's creator was founded in 2009. It made more than $100 million in profit last year and employs more than 40 people.
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p>Microsoft announced that the Mojang team will join its game studio that is responsible for games such as Halo, Forza and Fable.
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p>The chief executive of the tech giant, Satya Nadella, said: "Minecraft is more than an excellent game franchise. It is an open-world platform powered by a vibrant community that we cherish and brimming with exciting opportunities for that community and for Microsoft."
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p>Opposition to sale
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p>Markus "Notch", Mojang's founder has previously criticized Microsoft and told Reuters that there was a niche market for Windows phones and it wasn't worth creating applications for.
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p>Minecraft has a huge and enthusiastic cult following, many of whom have expressed their anger at what they see as the corporate takeover of an independent, communally-spirited company.
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p>"Makes me sick and sad," wrote one user on a renowned Minecraft forum. "It would ruin the gaming community,"" EvilBatsu? added.
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p>Others expressed concern over the possibility of their talents being showcased by their fans.
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p>"Not only will it cost more to play the game, it will cost people their jobs too. Many people play Minecraft and upload it to YouTube as their career, but if Microsoft is the new owner, there will be copyright issues."
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p>However , some players pointed out that Microsoft could devote larger resources to enhancing and expanding the game.
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p>In an announcement, Microsoft said it would maintain Minecraft across all of its existing platforms, and a "commitment to nurture and grow it long into the future".
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p>It also stated that the acquisition was expected to be concluded by the end of 2014.
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p>In a statement confirming the deal on its website, Mojang reassured gamers, saying: "Please remember that the future of Minecraft and you , the community, are crucial to everyone involved. If you take one thing out of this article then let it be this."
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p>With respect to Microsoft, Mojang said: "There are only few potential buyers with the resources to expand Minecraft on the scale it deserves."
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p>The firm added that "Notch" had decided that he "doesn't want the responsibility of running a company of such global significance".
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p>Developer Notch on selling Minecraft:
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p>"I've become an icon. I don't want to be a symbol with a responsibility for something massive that I don't understand, that I do not want to work on and that constantly comes back to me. I'm not an entrepreneur. I'm not a chief executive officer.
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p>Read his statement in full
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p>Why Minecraft?
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p>James McQuivey? of analytics firm Forrester has stated that "Minecraft is one of the most important gaming properties in the world".
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p>"Not only is it profitable, but it continues to grow in revenue years after its release, largely due to the passionate player base that invests in the creation of their own Minecraft worlds.
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p>"That helps explain the reasons Microsoft would like Minecraft and would like to ensure it is always accessible 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 fast shifting from a niche group of enthusiasts to mass market and Minecraft is a logical move as big business follows the traffic numbers in the digital world."
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p>Last month, Amazon bought Twitch, an online platform that allows users to watch other people play video games, for $970m (PS597m).
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p>"It's all about my sanity"
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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>25 April 2014
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p>Microsoft
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p>NPD Group
/p> https://www.victoriaeducation.co.uk/members/pimpledesire1/activity/1909120/
